Hundreds of Chicago-Area Auto Mechanics Go on Strike Amid Contract Talks Stalemate – NBC Chicago
Greater than 800 auto mechanics at dozens of Chicin the past space automotive sellerships are on strike after they rejected A mannequin new contract supply from an agency representing The corporations this week.
The mechanics, represented by IAM Mechanics’ Native 701, walked out on the job and have been on the picket line for almost two days after rejecting The latest proposed supply.
“We’re prepared To maintain out right here As prolonged As a Outcome of it takes to get an settlement that’s accepdesk to our membership,” IAM consultant Ronnie Gonzalez said.
Based mostly on Gonzalez, the mechanics rejected The latest contract supply with 97% of the ballots forged, After which adopted that up with a strike vote that acquired the assist of 99% of the union’s membership.
“I’d pretty be working, (however) we made A lot of concessions A pair of contracts in the past,” mechanic Bob Poynter said.
In 2017, An identical strike Occurred, with mechanics Occurring a strike that lasted almost two months. Now, with the union’s contract expiring with A gaggle of 55 Chicin the past space automotive sellers, one other walkout has begun.
Based mostly on Gonzalez, Definitely one of many supplys rejected by the union would have lowered base pay for staff.
“Definitely one of the proposals that the NCDC gave us was A discount in base pay price, Which might give managers The power To Scale again the guarantee that a member would acquire As quickly as They might come into work for A complete week,” he said.
Union members additionally say that The mannequin new deal would set off Medical insurance coverage prices to rise.
The committee representing the sellerships say these arguments fail to Keep in thoughts new legal guidelines That reinforces mechanics’ pay for repairs coated by guarantee, which They are saying will assist tackle The drawback of discount of base pay.
“We now Want to get again to work. We’ve acquired An excellent supply on the desk,” Dave Sloan of the Chicin the past Car Commerce Affiliation said. “For them to take their technicians and their members again on strike is simply surprising.”