Local UAW wants to guarantee union members are hired.
The UAW Local 2164, which is located at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant and builds the Chevrolet Corvette, has been pressing management to sign a new contract. A recent vote showed that 98 percent of production workers and 97 per cent of skilled trades workers opposed a deal offered by the company. For two years, the local union has not had a contract with Bowling Green Assembly Plant management. According to a report by , the workers want to be able to use UAW members to perform contracted tasks such as 3D printing, maintenance work, or striping. The factory also needs to be improved in terms of sanitation and safety.
“We always ask for a guarantee,” Local 2164 President Brian Ferrett stated to The Bowling Green Daily News about the need to commit to using UAW workers in these positions. “Over the past 20 years, all GM has pushed to achieve in most cases is for a 3rd party to do our jobs at a lower salary.” Local union members have already voted in favor of a strike. This cannot happen without first going through the UAW’s regional and national tiers. According to the report, a work stoppage is unlikely in the near future. Management continues to meet with the bargaining committee at Bowling Green to reach an agreement.
Motor1.com reached out directly to the plant to obtain a statement from them regarding the negotiations. “We are disappointed UAW Local 2164 rejected the local contract. We will continue to meet the local union to discuss the vote and continue to negotiate. A spokesperson for GM stated that the goal was to reach an agreement that benefits employees, and positions our company to be competitive as we move ahead.”