Contract Talks Begin Between Workers’ Union And Detroit Automakers

Line worker Cheryl Simpson moves a transmission from the assembly line to a pallet at the Ford Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan. (AP)

Contract talks begin today between the United Auto Workers and Detroit’s Big Three automakers, with Chrysler meeting the UAW at the table first.

These are the first negotiations since the industry bailout of 2009. Workers want a piece of the automakers’ recent success, in the form of profit sharing. The workers’ union also wants to bring back lost jobs and reopen closed factories.

The companies want to tie compensation to a worker’s performance.

Guest:

• Micheline Maynard, senior editor of Changing Gears