Members of the Canadian Auto Workers union at DaimlerChrysler locations in Windsor, Brampton and Etobicoke have voted in favour of a new three-year agreement which tracks the GM economic pattern and provides annual increases of 3%, 3% and 2%.
Overall votes were 91% percent for production, 80.5% for skilled trades and 92.8% for the technical, office and professional workers.
In addition to the pattern economic settlement which increases significantly time off the job, healthcare benefits and income security, the union obtained a commitment from DaimlerChrysler to build a new plant on a Greenfield site in Windsor which is expected to go into production in the last quarter of 2005.
The union estimates that between 2,000 and 3,000 jobs will be created as a result.
New investment was a key issue for the union as the Windsor Pillette Road maxivan plant had not been assigned a new product after mid-2003.
For the workers at the doomed plant, approximately 660 jobs will be phased into the Windsor minivan assembly plant and along with the vacancies created by early retirements, there should be enough jobs so that no layoffs are expected.
Brampton workers laid off after the third shift was cancelled over a year ago, most of whom have less than four years’ seniority, will have an enhanced monetary severance option.
