The union representing 1,300 hourly workers at DaimlerChrysler AG’s Detroit Diesel plant called a strike on Tuesday, more than a week after their previous six-year contract expired, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
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The workers formed a picket line on Tuesday night outside the suburban Detroit plant.
Employees had begun refusing overtime once the contract expired on October 30 and the company had responded by putting workers at the Redford plant on mandatory nine-hour shifts, workers told AP.
DaimlerChrysler spokesman Chris Brandt told the news agency that contract talks continued with United Auto Workers Local [branch] 163 – he declined to discuss issues in the dispute.
AP noted that Detroit Diesel, which designs, produces and maintains heavy-duty diesel and alternative fuel engines, auto diesel engines and engine-related products, was once was a division of General Motors Corp. Private investors bought it in 1988, and then sold the company to DaimlerChrysler in October 2000. This is the UAW’s first contract negotiation with DaimlerChrysler for Detroit Diesel.
