It took two short strikes, but the United Auto Workers (UAW) union has new contracts with General Motors and Chrysler, and now it will move on to struggling Ford.
The union reached a tentative four-year deal with Chrysler LLC on Wednesday after a six-hour walkout.
News of the pact came shortly after the UAW announced that General Motors Corp workers had ratified their four-year agreement with the company.
But Ford Motor Co, which lost US$12.6 billion last year, could be the toughest bargainer yet because of its weakened financial position.
Industry analysts have said that Ford likely will seek a different deal than Chrysler and GM, perhaps with deeper concessions.
Ford spokesman Marcey Evans said on Wednesday night the company had not heard from the union on when talks might resume.
A person with knowledge of the Chrysler agreement said it includes some guarantees that vehicles will be produced at US factories, a company-funded union-run trust that will pay much of Chrysler's US$18 billion in long-term retiree health care costs and a lower wage scale for some newly hired workers.
The person, who requested anonymity because the contract has not been ratified by UAW members, said Chrysler's vehicle guarantees, which translate into job security for union workers, are not as extensive as those given by GM.
The guarantees are in many cases only for the life of current products, the person said. GM made guarantees at many factories that include the next generation of cars, trucks and parts.
The new lower wage scale, the person said, covers new hires who would replace Chrysler Mopar parts transportation workers.
Buyout and early retirement offers would be made to current workers in an effort to get them to leave, the person said.
The lower wage scale is similar to the one negotiated by GM, the person said.
UAW president Ron Gettelfinger would not release details of the agreement with Chrysler, which is now 80.1 percent owned by private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP.
"This agreement was made possible because UAW workers made it clear to Chrysler that we needed an agreement that rewards the contributions they have made to the success of this company," Gettelfinger said in a statement.
Chrysler said the tentative agreement, which covers about 45,000 workers and 78,000 retirees and spouses, includes the retiree health care trust.
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