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Mitsubishi workers begin voting on proposed contract
(The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 4--NORMAL -- Mitsubishi Motors North America workers lined the corridor outside of Illinois State University's Braden Auditorium on Friday to vote on a proposed contract that would trade pay and benefit cuts for a promise of job security.
Voting on a tentative four-year agreement between Mitsubishi and United Auto Workers Local 2488 continued through the night at the UAW hall on Illinois 9 in west Bloomington. It is scheduled to conclude at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Local 2488 President Ralph Timan and Mitsubishi spokesman Dan Irvin declined comment until ballots are counted.
While many voters also declined Friday to talk about how they would vote, proposed pay and benefit cuts, changes in medical coverage and a two-tier wage system were issues on the minds of other voters.
A number of union members donned opposition stickers, but at least one voter said the deal could pass because people would be scared of the consequences otherwise.
In return for members' concessions, the company will agree to no involuntary layoffs and guarantee the plant will remain open for the duration of the contract through 2012. The proposed deal also offers early retirement and voluntary separation packages to the 1,264 union workers at the plant.
Still, the company's guarantees did not sway Carol McBride of El Paso.
McBride, a production worker in the body shop, said she can't accept a pay and benefit cut in a tough economy.
Production workers would earn $24 an hour while maintenance workers would receive $28.50 an hour under the deal, about $4 an hour less than their current wages.
But McBride said she struggled after union members agreed to a $4 wage and benefit cut in 2006 that was restored this spring.
"I'm concerned about my finances," she said. "It's not because I live above my means."
Ed McClain of Hopedale is more forgiving when it comes to accepting the pay cut but has other concerns.
"I could live with $24 an hour," the production worker said. "I know times are tough."
However, he disagrees with details that pertain to cost-of-living increases and especially health care benefits. Higher co-pays and an increase for brand-name prescriptions could affect the cost for medical treatment, he said.
In exchange for changes to the medical plan, employees would receive a lump-sum payment of $1,000.
Body shop worker Jennifer Nelson of Pekin also is concerned for the nearly 1,200 Mitsubishi workers laid off in 2004.
Under the tentative agreement, laid-off production associates, who are eligible to vote if they are dues-paying members in good standing, could be recalled at $16.80 an hour.
"It's not my right to vote away their wages," Nelson said.
While McClain doesn't think anyone likes the proposal, fear about the economy may keep enough people from opposing it.
"I hope it doesn't pass, but I'm afraid it will," he said.
To see more of The Pantagraph, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pantagraph.com.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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