AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Automaker Chrysler, facing a possible union walkout Wednesday, said it was considering cutting hundreds of non-union jobs at its U.S. plants.
Chrysler said it intends to cut its nonunion, salaried workforce by 5 percent and reduce the contract workforce at its Auburn Hills, Mich., facility by 37 percent, sources familiar with the plan told the Detroit Free Press. In February, the automaker announced plans to eliminate 13,000 jobs over three years, including 2,000 salaried jobs.
Under the new plan, the additional layoffs could affect about 535 white-collar jobs. The automaker has 3,000 contract workers in Auburn Hills. A 37 percent reduction could mean 1,110 jobs eliminated.
The move comes on the heels of the United Auto Workers giving Chrysler an 11 a.m. Wednesday deadline to reach a new labor agreement or face a nationwide strike.
