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UAW Members Ratify First Contract at 3 COLFOR Plants

23 May 2000

UAW Members Ratify First Contract at Three COLFOR, Manufacturing Plants in Salem, Malvern and Minerva, Ohio

    CLEVELAND, May 22 Over 600 members of the UAW ratified a
five-year contract at the Salem, OH, Malvern, OH, and Minerva, OH plants of
COLFOR, Manufacturing at a meeting held Sunday, May 21, 2000 by a 79% margin.
The negotiators settled at 4:00 pm Wednesday, May 17, 2000, just two hours
prior to a threatened strike deadline of 6:00 pm.
    "This is one of the largest small parts industrial packages negotiated in
several years by which COLFOR workers will be enjoying vastly increased wages,
better health care coverage and their first-defined benefit pension plan,"
said UAW Region 2 Director Warren Davis.
    Wage gains made in this agreement are as follows:

    Year 1:  $1.00 per hour base increase; and a $1,350.00 lump sum payment
    Year 2:  $1,200.00 lump sum payment
    Year 3:  $0.45 per hour base increase
    Year 4:  $0.50 per hour base increase
    Year 5:  $0.70 per hour base increase

    Additionally, shift premiums were negotiated at the rate of $0.45 an hour
for afternoon shift and $0.40 an hour for the midnight shift.
    Based on a 40-hour work week, the new agreement will deliver over $21,000
in wage benefits alone to each UAW member at the COLFOR, Salem, Malvern and
Minerva plants.
    Also included is a health care package with broad ranging benefits which
include:  hospitalization/physician care, dental care, vision care, sickness
and accident benefits, and life insurance for the UAW members and their
families. They will also enjoy the first ever defined benefit pension program,
while retaining a 401K benefit and being included in a Profit Sharing Plan.
Vacation, additional holidays and improved language have also been won.