Media advisory - Ford workers ratify new collective agreement

TORONTO, May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- CAW members working at Ford in Oakville, Windsor, St. Thomas and Bramalea voted 78 per cent in favour of the new collective agreement yesterday and today.

"This agreement is a victory for our members," said CAW President Buzz Hargrove. "It takes care of current workers and retirees while recognizing the challenges facing the industry. And it doesn't do this on the backs of future workers either, with any sort of two-tier structure."

This round of Big Three bargaining will be the last for both Hargrove and CAW National Secretary-Treasurer Jim O'Neil, ending a thirty year era.

"Our members see first hand how unfair trade, a high Canadian dollar and soaring oil prices are all impacting their job security and understand better than anyone that these issues must be dealt with," said Mike Vince, chair of the CAW-Ford Master Bargaining Committee and president of CAW Local 200.

"We've done our job by negotiating a responsible and pragmatic agreement and we will continue to keep the heat on the federal government to address the problems that are eroding the auto industry today," said Hargrove.

Approximately 8,900 Ford workers are covered by the master collective agreement. The CAW will be meeting with General Motors on Monday and Chrysler on Tuesday with the intention of adapting the pattern agreement achieved at Ford to each company.

The ratification results are as follows:

Production: 69% in favour

Skilled Trades: 72% in favour

Parts Depot: 93% in favour

(x)Office Unit: 100% in favour

(x)The office unit is not calculated in the main total.

Source: Canadian Auto Workers

CONTACT: CAW Communications, Shannon Devine, (cell) (416) 302-1699

2008-05-04 23:27:26 0351923 PRNEWSWIRE