Ford, UAW deal could go either way

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Approval for the United Auto Workers' tentative deal with U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co. is teetering, union officials said.

With 41,000 UAW members working at Ford, votes on the four-year contract are in from several local UAW chapters. Workers at a Ford plant in Chicago voted against it, as did two plants in Wayne, Mich., The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

A Saline, Mich., plant also said no thanks to the deal, which workers see as not generous enough given huge profits Ford has made recently.

Chapters voting for the deal include two engine factories in Ohio, a transmission plant in Michigan, the Flat Rock, Mich., assembly plant and a Minnesota assembly plant.

"I'm going to vote 'no.' The salaried (employees) get bonuses, stock options. We didn't get anything for cost of living," said Richard Royal, a 50-year Ford veteran.

Another worker, Vincent Williams with 17 years with Ford said, "The whole country is going through a rough time. We're blessed to have a bonus at all."

Success of the deal likely hinges on votes at three large plants, a Dearborn, Mich., plant with 10,000 workers, a Louisville, Ky., plant with 5,400 workers and a Claycomo, Mo., plant with 4,200 workers, the Journal said.

UAW President Bob King said he had not decided on whether to call a strike if the contract vote fails.