CAW May Try New Tactic Of Simultaneous Talks With Automakers

The CAW may abandon their tactic of using negotiations with one automaker as a precedent for other negotiations, and conduct simultaneous talks with Ford, Chrysler and General Motors. The CAW is holding separate talks with the Big Three automakers in Toronto, and the union is staying mum about a possible "target automaker", in the apparent hopes that the simultaneous talks are successful. The CAW's contract expires at 11:59 P.M. on September 17th, and CAW President Ken Lewenza told Reuters that any decision regarding a target company would come at least five days beforehand. The new tactic isn't entirely unheard of; the UAW used the simultaneous negotiations move in 2009, though they ultimately settled on GM as their target. Given the incredible tough climate for both the CAW and the automakers, this could be a way for both of them to reach a compromise while mutually saving face. All three automakers are looking to reduce labor costs, while the CAW, at least publicly, is dead set against concessions on the part of the workers. Speaking to the Windsor Star, Lewenza said that "If I have it my way, I won't have to announce a target company…If one of the companies will signal that we can get a deal, if we can get the framework of a deal in the next 10 days and I share that framework with the other companies, there won't be a need for a target company," he said. Given Lewenza's recent tone (which may be understandably firmer in the run-up to negotiations) this seems fairly pragmatic. And how about this nugget, also reports by the Star If the companies "agree that workers are entitled to share in their success in a modest way, we can get a deal," said Lewenza. What does that mean? An open door for profit sharing…? from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com

Put the internet to work for you. via Personal Recipe 680102