Unionized employees of five Sault Ste. Marie domestic car dealerships voted 65 percent today to reject the latest offer.
In a separate vote this afternoon at Algoma's Water Tower Inn, the garage and body shop workers, technicians and clerical staff also indicated they're 90 percent in favour of continuing their strike, which is now entering its fourth month.
It was the third offer rejected by the 100 members of Local 2332 of the International Machinists and Aerospace Workers, who have been on strike since September 23.
Pat Murphy (shown), union grand lodge representative, said the latest offer was put to a membership vote because "there were some substantial gains made with this offer for the first time."
Main difference is over 40-hour guarantee
The principal point of disagreement, Murphy said, is the union's demand for a 40-hour guarantee, which was not addressed at all in the offer presented today.
The machinists have proposed a 38-hour guarantee as a counter-offer, Murphy said.
He was also sharply critical of the dealerships for running weekend advertisements on local radio that disclosed some terms of the latest offer.
"That should never have been done," Murphy told us, arguing that it's up to the union, and not management, to tell workers the contents of an offer.
Wages never an issue, union says
The radio ads referred to wage increases, but "it's never been a monetary issue," he said. "We've never discussed wages in bargaining."
Emerging from today's membership meeting, Murphy also expressed frustration with the dealerships' willingness to deal.
"They don't want to talk. They don't want to discuss problems."
The full text of the agreement rejected today follows.
***************************************************************** Sault Ste. Marie Auto Dealers and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
January 3, 2003, 7 p.m.
WITHOUT PREJUDICE
SEE ALL ATTACHMENTS
REVISED - Offer of Settlement:
Effective August 11, 2002 Expires August 10, 2005
Retroactivity of payment of wages: August 11, 2002 to September 20, 2002 paid upon ratification of Offer and return to work.
Proposed increases to current ware rates by classification
Tech, parts, body, office
Year One - 3 percent Year Two - 2 percent Year Three - 2 percent Pension (increase from $.85 current) - $.10 each year
Progression grid for general garage workers
Less than 3 years seniority
- Total in Year 1 for current employees and new hires - $8.86 - Total in Year 2 - $9.03 - Total in Year 3 - $9.21
3 years or more but less than 5 years
- Total in Year 1 for current employees and new hires - $9.33 - Total in Year 2 - $9.52 - Total in Year 3 - $9.71
5 years or more
- Total in Year 1 for current employees and new hires - $10.42 - Total in Year 2 - $10.62 - Total in Year 3 - $10.83
All red-circled general garage workers will also be entitled to a 2 percent raise in each year of the three-year agreement.
General garage workers while performing accessory installation shall be paid a .30 per hour premium.
To read the rest of the offer, please click here.