Media Advisory - CAW In-Plant Leadership Endorse New Ford Agreement

TORONTO, Sept. 21, 2012 /CNW/ - CAW in-plant leadership across the Ford chain have today unanimously endorsed a new, four-year collective agreement that aims to control fixed costs while rejecting U.S.-style two-tiered wages, creating new employment opportunities for hundreds of laid off workers and providing cost of living lump sum payments, among other gains for members.

"It's important for our elected workplace representatives to fully understand what's been negotiated in this deal," said CAW President Ken Lewenza. "Ultimately, it's up to the rank-and-file members to decide."

The CAW Ford leadership meeting involved 200 chairpersons, stewards and other shop-floor reps and was held this morning at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Toronto. The deal has been unanimously endorsed by the union's master bargaining committee.

The union will be holding a series of ratification meetings over the weekend, where members at Ford will vote on the tentative deal.

The ratification schedule is as follows:

Saturday, September 22

CAW Local 240
Start time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Local 240 Hall - 3400 Somme Ave., Windsor, Ontario

CAW Local 707
Start time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Copps Coliseum - 101 York Boulevard, Hamilton, Ontario

Sunday, September 23

CAW Local 1324
Start time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Central Public School - 24 Alexander Street, Brampton, Ontario

CAW Local 584
Start time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Local 1285 Hall - 23 Regan Road, Brampton, Ontario

CAW Local 200
Start time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Caboto Club - 2175 Parent Avenue, Windsor, Ontario

Media are welcome to attend.

Contract ratification results will be released on Sunday, September 23 in the late afternoon, once all of the votes have been cast and tallied. The CAW will send out a press advisory via Canada News Wire.

SOURCE: Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW)

CAW Communications: Shannon Devine [phone] or Angelo DiCaro [phone]