The UAW and Ford Motor Co. began “high-level financial discussions” today to reach a new labor deal that workers expect to be richer than one with General Motors Co. Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
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On Saturday, UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles, the lead negotiator with Ford, met with his administrative assistants to prioritize his agenda in preparation for this week’s meetings with Ford executives, the UAW said in a memo.
Settles and Ford have agreed to hold “very long” negotiating sessions this week, and once a deal is close those meetings should “last around the clock,” the union said.
Although the UAW said there is no indication a strike against Ford will be necessary, Settles said all local union presidents should begin preparing for one in case a deal cannot be reached.
Teams of negotiators for the union and Ford, the only U.S. automaker to avoid bankruptcy, have been meeting for about two months. Financial issues typically are addressed in the final stages of negotiations.
The union began an intense focus on Ford a day after the UAW, failing to finalize a deal with Chrysler Group LLC, extended its contract with the Fiat-controlled automaker until Oct. 19. The UAW continued to negotiate with Chrysler today as well.
“Chrysler Group LLC and the UAW are continuing their meetings and productive discussions are ongoing,” according to a message posted on the UAW-Chrysler Talks Facebook page today.
