Rank-and-file opposing union deal with Chrysler

Chrysler LLC's landmark deal with the United Auto Workers is running into serious rank-and-file dissent, with large numbers of workers voting against ratifying the new four-year-contract, union sources said.

The proposed contract has been voted down by decisive margins by workers at four of the company's major assembly plants and faces serious, organized opposition at the other three.

Voting is expected to conclude today and union officials are expected to release the results later this week.

The contract stumbled as it left the gate following a seven-hour strike on Oct. 10, when the chairman of the union's bargaining team, Bill Parker, broke with the union's leadership and urged workers to vote against it.

TOO CLOSE TO CALL

"I'm not saying we're going to win," Parker said. "But it's going to be close. It's already too close to call."

Parker put out a minority report criticizing the contract for its failure to defend union principles and to match the job security provisions negotiated last month with General Motors.

The opposition to the proposed contract has already delayed the union's negotiations with Ford Motor Co.

TRICKLEDOWN EFFECT

It is expected to make it more difficult for Ford to gain additional concessions from the union, said one observer, who asked not to be identified.

Chrysler workers are distressed by the lack of job security guarantees, the introduction of a two-tier wage system and the diversion of cost of living adjustments to a fund or health care.

The extension of the two-tier wages structure was a major issue during the ratification voting at GM.