Delphi: No decision on local plant
Published 6:00 pm Sunday, May 22, 2011
A Delphi spokesperson said Friday that no decision has been madeon the Brookhaven plant’s future and that talks between corporatemanagement and union leadership are continuing.
“At this point, it’s business as usual,” said Rachelle Valdez,Delphi director of Communications and Marketing.
Delphi management and leaders of the IUE-CWA Local 718 are in talkson a new contract for union workers at the Brookhavenfacility.
Union members overwhelmingly rejected a new five-year contractabout three weeks ago and were reportedly given until last Sundayto reconsider their position. A union meeting that day produced nochange in the union’s position.
According to sources, after no agreement with the union, Delphimanagement has indicated that the plant’s closure would beexpedited. Mid-October has been mentioned as a date forclosure.
Valdez, however, said Friday that talks between corporate and localmanagement and union officials are ongoing and there was “nothingnew” to discuss on that front. She said Delphi’s policy is not totalk about negotiations in the press.
“They’re looking at competitive improvements to ensure the sitestays competitive long term,” Valdez said of the Brookhavenplant.
A document purporting to show differences between the union’scurrent contract and a new proposal was delivered anonymously toThe DAILY LEADER Friday afternoon. However, the document’sauthenticity could not be verified.
The Brookhaven Delphi Packard Electric plant employs approximately250 people, although all are not part of the union.