Canada autoworkers oppose wage tiers

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WINDSOR, Ontario, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Canadian auto workers are not inclined to make concessions on wages to win a new contract from the U.S. Big Three, a member of the bargaining committee said.

Dino Chiodo, chairman of the committee bargaining with Chrysler, said the proposed two-tier wage system was not acceptable to the Canadian Auto Workers union. The current contract is due to expire Monday night.

"The company needs to recognize and realize that we are not taking concessions and we will not be going backward in this round of bargaining," said Chiodo, president of CAW Local 444 in Windsor, Ontario. "There is no two-tier structure that we're interested in entertaining whatsoever at this point."

The automakers contend they need to cut costs in Canada, which they say is the most expensive place in the world to build cars and trucks, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. Failure to roll back costs could result in production being shifted south to the United States.

Chiodo said the CAW was willing to consider stretching out the time it takes for workers to reach the top wage scale from six years to 10.