UAW Settles Strikes at Four Johnson Controls Plants; Union Looks for 'New Relationship' With JCI

DETROIT, June 14 -- The UAW announced today that it had reached a tentative settlement to resolve the strikes at Johnson Controls (JCI) plants in Shreveport, Louisiana, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Earth City, Missouri, and Northwood, Ohio.

"This is an important victory for our members at Johnson Controls," said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. "They stood up for fairness, for dignity, and for a voice at work, and our entire union is proud to stand with them."

The settlement includes first contract agreements for UAW members at the JCI plants in Shreveport, Oklahoma City and Earth City.

At the Northwood, Ohio plant, JCI agreed to recognize the UAW as the union chosen by workers there based on a majority vote by card check recognition. Eighty-five percent of workers at Northwood have already signed UAW union representation cards, but JCI had declined to recognize the union prior to this week's strike.

The company agreed to an employer neutrality and card check recognition agreement at 26 JCI automotive parts plants, including Northwood. The 26 plants employ a total of 8,000 workers. In addition, the company agreed to binding arbitration to settle first contract negotiations in any of the 26 plants in which a majority of workers elect union representation.

The prompt settlement of the strike said Gettelfinger, was a result of "strong union solidarity."

"UAW members from local unions all over the country were on the picket lines in four states supporting JCI workers," said Gettelfinger. "When people join our union, we say they're joining an organization of workers who are going to be there whenever necessary - and we mean it."

UAW Vice President Bob King, who directs the union's Competitive Shop/Independents, Parts and Suppliers (IPS) Department, said the success of any set of negotiations "can be measured by whether your relationship is better at the end of the negotiations than it was at the beginning."

"By that measure," he said, "these negotiations were very successful. We're looking forward to building a strong partnership with JCI."

UAW members in Shreveport, Oklahoma City and Earth City are voting today on the tentative agreements.

"These are good first contract agreements," said Jim Wells, director of UAW Region 5, which covers southwestern states, including Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Missouri. "These contracts will provide fairness in the workplace, and fair economic rewards for JCI workers. We're proud to recommend that workers ratify these tentative agreements."

JCI's new approach to labor relations will benefit workers and the company, said Lloyd Mahaffey, director of UAW Region 2B, which covers the state of Ohio.

"JCI wasted a lot of time trying to figure out ways to deny workers their right to join a union," Mahaffey said. "I think their new approach, which respects workers' rights, is going to be much more productive."

UAW President Gettelfinger also emphasized the importance of building a new relationship with JCI. "I want to acknowledge and thank the top leadership of JCI for their part in settling this dispute," he said.

JCI CEO James Keyes and COO John Barth, Gettelfinger said, "were both personally involved in getting this settled, and that made a big difference. We look forward to working with them in the future."

"We know the car and truck business today, including the supplier business, is tougher than ever," Gettelfinger said. "That's why our goal is to establish productive relationships with employers so that workers, companies and communities can succeed together."

"But make no mistake: when employers deny workers their lawful rights, when they fail to bargain in good faith, we're not afraid to use every point of leverage we have to support our members, and to support workers who want UAW representation. I hope every non-union employer in the country hears me loud and clear on that point -- especially non-union suppliers in the auto industry."