CAW membership votes in favour of Ford contract

TORONTO, Oct. 6, 2002 - Canadian Auto Workers union membership votes held over the weekend in Windsor, St. Thomas, Oakville and Brampton demonstrated overwhelming support for the three-year Ford contract settled September 30, 2002. Production workers voted 92 per cent in favour of the contract, with skilled trades workers endorsing the contract by 96 per cent. CAW office workers voted overwhelmingly in favour as well.

"The number one issue of the membership was job security, especially in Oakville. The bargaining committees worked hard to address their concern and the membership vote demonstrated the confidence they had in their bargaining committees with overwhelming support," says CAW president Buzz Hargrove. "I am absolutely elated with the vote results."

The contract tracks the pattern set with General Motors with wage increases of 3 per cent, 3 per cent and 2 per cent in each year of the contract in addition to cost of living protection. Substantial improvements in health care benefits, income security programs, time off the job, health and safety and other areas of the contract also tracked the GM pattern.

The tough issue of the closure of the Ontario Truck Plant announced last January by Ford was resolved with 900 jobs saved which, together with anticipated retirements encouraged by a $60,000 early retirement incentive, will mean no layoffs for the duration of the contract for the 1400 workers and their families threatened with the closure. In addition Ford unveiled future plans to transform the Oakville site into a flexible manufacturing site after 2005, conditional on government support.

The CAW represents 14,000 Ford workers in Canada.