Autoworkers Call Out to Senators Bond and Carnahan 'Save Our Jobs'

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 19 ``Save Our Jobs'' will be the theme today at the Chrysler Group's Dodge Ram manufacturing plant. Employees will gather for a town hall meeting with UAW leaders and plant management to discuss the threat of job losses related to new fuel economy legislation being proposed in Washington.

Chrysler Group has two manufacturing facilities in Missouri with more than 7,000 employees. St. Louis South builds Dodge and Chrysler minivans and St. Louis North, which recently received a $700 million investment, produces the new 2002 Dodge Ram pickup truck and will soon begin producing the 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Heavy Duty series.

The Chrysler Group is committed to improving the fuel economy performance of its vehicles, but does not support legislation that could restrict the production of pickup trucks, minivans and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs). This type of legislation would affect a total of 36,000 Missouri autoworkers and 221,000 residents that work in automotive-related industries.

Speaking at the event will be Jim Nihls, Plant Manager for the St. Louis North plant and Tony Candela, President UAW Local 136.

According to Candela, ``Fuel economy legislation is the subject of fierce debate in the nation's capitol, and the employees of the St. Louis North facility want Senators Jean Carnahan and Kit Bond to know that they need and appreciate their help in saving Missouri jobs.'' Ronnell Coleman, President, UAW Local 597 added, ``We believe in the need for fuel economy improvements, but we don't accept radical plans that could result in a loss of Missouri jobs.''

Chrysler Group is committed to working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which already has the authority to set fuel economy standards at the maximum feasible level. ``Automakers have increased the fuel efficiency of vehicles every year for the past 25 years,'' Nihls said. ``Any changes to the rules must balance the complex trade-offs between affordability, customer choice, jobs and vehicle safety.''

The Chrysler Group continues to develop advanced fuel-efficient technologies such as hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cells. The company has already announced plans for a hybrid electric Dodge Ram and recently unveiled a fuel cell powered concept minivan.