UAW SETS SIGHTS ON FORD, GM.Byline: Brian S. Akre Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. emerged Wednesday as the United Auto Workers' likely targets in national contract talks after the Canadian Auto Workers The Canadian Auto Workers (CAW; formally the National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada) is one of Canada's largest and highest profile trade unions. named Chrysler Canada Chrysler Canada Inc. is Chrysler's Canadian division. Incorporated in 1925, the Chrysler Corporation of Canada gained complete control of a Maxwell-Chalmers plant that had been used to manufacture some Chrysler models in the previous year. Ltd. as its target. The UAW (spelling) UAW - Misspelling of "IAW"? is unlikely to pick Chrysler Corp. now that the Canadian union has chosen to focus on bargaining with the No. 3 automaker, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. The final decision is up to UAW President Stephen Yokich and his top five officers. CAW President Buzz Hargrove's decision to select Chrysler surprised some, in light of his recent criticism and strike threats against GM. The CAW is fighting GM's plans to sell two parts plants in Ontario and its efforts to increase out-sourcing. ``The story was that Buzz and Chrysler got along well, and that Chrysler was adding jobs in Canada,'' said Dale Brickner, a labor professor at Michigan State University Michigan State University, at East Lansing; land-grant and state supported; coeducational; chartered 1855. It opened in 1857 as Michigan Agricultural College, the first state agricultural college. . ``I didn't expect that choice.'' Chrysler becomes the CAW's target for the third time in four consecutive rounds of contract talks. Brickner said the logical target for the UAW now is GM. The No. 1 automaker employs about half of the UAW's Big Three membership of 385,000, and faces the most difficult challenges of the Big Three. It also is considered the most vulnerable to a fall strike as it prepares to launch several new models that are crucial to its future success. ``The moves the UAW made last week suggest they may drag out the target designation a while,'' Brickner said. ``I would not be surprised if they went beyond Labor Day Labor Day, holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada on the first Monday in September to honor the laborer. It was inaugurated by the Knights of Labor in 1882 and made a national holiday by the U.S. Congress in 1894. .'' The CAW, with 52,800 Big Three members, has warned that a strike is likely in Canada. Its members voted recently to authorize a strike. The UAW has made no strike threats so far. ``We're not picking a company to strike,'' Yokich said last week. ``What we're really looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. is a company that's willing to step up and recognize what our demands are and . . . reach an agreement.'' Both unions have made out-sourcing one of the top issues in negotiations. ``This issue must be dealt with in this round of talks,'' Hargrove told a Toronto news conference. ``This will not be put off for another day.'' The current three-year contracts in both countries will expire Sept. 14. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (color) CAW's Buzz Hargrove talks to reporters after announcing Chrysler Canada will be targeted in this year's contract talks. Associated Press |
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