DaimlerChrysler and UAW Talks on Health Care Stalled
08 Septembre 2006 - 9:02PM
PR Newswire (US)
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Statement
from John Franciosi, Senior Vice President - Employee Relations,
DaimlerChrysler Corp. DaimlerChrysler and the UAW were unable to
reach an agreement on health care at this time. We were advised by
the UAW that based on its financial analysis, it did not believe
its members would ratify an agreement that achieved economic parity
with deals reached at General Motors and Ford. The company was
prepared to accept a proposal that did not reach full economic
parity, however, the UAW was not willing to move forward with that
proposal. In this era of global competitiveness, health care relief
is as important to DaimlerChrysler as it is to Ford and GM. At $2.3
billion this year, health care will represent DaimlerChrysler's
single-largest fixed cost. As Ron Gettelfinger said recently, the
domestic industry needs a level playing field with transplant
manufacturers. Currently DaimlerChrysler's labor cost disadvantage
to transplant automakers in the U.S. is $1000 per vehicle. Even a
pattern health care agreement would reduce that disadvantage by
only 20% for DaimlerChrysler. It is unfortunate that the UAW wasn't
willing to assist us in taking the first step to leveling that
playing field. Sooner or later, we -- including the UAW -- are
going to have to deal with this greater issue. DATASOURCE:
DaimlerChrysler CONTACT: Mike Aberlich, +1-248-512-2704, or David
Elshoff, +1-248-512-2690, both of Chrysler Group Web site:
http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/
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