It Could Take A While For The UAW To Get A Ford Deal

DEARBORN (WWJ) -- After being on the back burner for more than week, talks are now heating up between Ford and the UAW.

The union's abrupt change in bargaining target caught a lot of observers by surprise.

"I was a little surprised, because I was one of those who expected them to go to Chrysler," said Art Schwartz, a retired GM negotiator, who now runs the consulting firm Labor and Economics Associates.

INTERVIEW: Former negotiator Art Schwartz--now a consultant--talks about UAW decision to shift attention to Ford.

Schwartz, who has been involved in several sets of labor talks, says it's not unusual for the union to change its primary target, based on conditions. It doesn't necessarily mean there's a serious problem in the Chrysler talks.

"Maybe they thought Chrysler was going to take a little too long to leave Ford on the back burner," he said.

Ford was given an indefinite extension early last week, as the union concentrated on getting what appeared to be simultaneous deals with GM and Chrysler.

A GM deal came late last Friday night, but talks between the UAW and Chrysler started running into difficulties, including a harshly worded letter from CEO Sergio Marchionne. Chrysler is also indicating that it can't afford to give workers the same deal as they got at General Motors.

Some publications, including the Wall Street Journal, were reporting that the union and Chrysler were close to a deal Wednesday night. Then, a four week extension of the Chrysler deadline was announced, followed by the word that Ford was the new bargaining target.

"The UAW will focus its attention on Ford Motor Co. in negotiations for a tentative agreement," said a brief email from the union's media relations department.

The union didn't set a deadline, and a quick deal is not expected at Ford, which is the richest of the automakers.

That has many Ford workers hoping for a better deal than the union reached with General Motors.

"I think we deserve it, but are we going to get it, that's another thing," said Ford worker John Hamlett. "You never know what you're gonna get."

Hamlett was one of several workers who spoke with WWJ's Ron Dewey outside Ford's Michigan Assembly plant.

One nagging issue is a grievance that's been going through the system over "shared sacrifice." Workers are upset that some benefits were restored for salaried workers, but not manufacturing workers.

"We're the ones that make them the money," said one worker. "For them to give themselves their stuff back, and not give us, it's one sided."

That issue is currently in arbitration, but the UAW has said it would prefer a negotiated solution.

Ford is the only one of the three domestic automakers that the union is allowed to strike. While workers have authorized a strike, it's considered very unlikely.

"We haven't seen a national strike in 35 year, or thereabouts at Ford, a long time ago," said Kristin Dziczek of the Center for Auto Research. "There have been a few little 'dust ups' in recent years."

Under the terms of the contract extension at Ford, the UAW would need to give the company three days notice of any strike.

Ford also has a core of militant workers who lead the rejection of a 2009 concessions deal. They have already promised to fight any contract that doesn't include pay raises.

Still, long time negotiator Art Schwartz says it appears the GM deal can be modified to make it acceptable to Ford and its unionized work force.

"I think they can accept the GM deal with a little sweetener, a little extra as far as the signing bonus goes."