Union holds ground in Delphi talks
Published 6:24 pm Tuesday, May 17, 2011
A Sunday meeting of union employees at Brookhaven’s DelphiPackard Electric plant produced no change in the union’s position,although some contract talks are continuing.
Calls seeking comments from leaders of the IUE-CWA Local 718 unionat Delphi were not returned Monday. However, a source said therewere no votes taken and the contract situation was left “inmanagement’s hands.”
Sunday’s meeting included some discussion of the pros and consabout a new five-year contract proposal that was overwhelminglyvoted down about two weeks ago. Raise amounts were one topic ofSunday’s talks.
The source said contract concerns have been expressed to localplant management, which is relaying them to Delphi leadership inOhio.
“But we’re after the deadline,” the source said.
Following the union contract rejection vote, it was reportedlygiven until Sunday to reconsider its position. Also, just over aweek ago, local plant management was informed that the plant’sclosure would be expedited and targeted for shutdown inOctober.
Delphi officials have made no announcements on the Brookhavenplant’s future. They have said contract negotiations with the unionare ongoing.
Community business and industry officials have been watching theDelphi situation closely. The Brookhaven Delphi plant employsapproximately 250 people, but not all are union affiliated.
Mayor Les Bumgarner said his main concern was avoiding shuttingdown the plant. He was hoping that reasonable minds could cometogether and reach an agreement to keep the plant open.
“We need those jobs in Brookhaven, and our people need those jobs,”the mayor said.