Contract Talks Reach Critical Point
June 14, 2003, Waukesha, WI…IAM negotiators picked up the pace as contract talks for a new agreement at General Electric homed in on a cluster of crucial issues. Working late into the night, the IAM team kept the focus squarely on issues that IAM members at GE said were absolutely vital in any new agreement.

“Those issues haven’t changed since our first meeting,” noted GVP Bob Thayer, who leads the IAM team. “We cannot accept any agreement that does not address rising health care costs, pension protections and job security.”

He said the GE representatives had indicated some movement on those issues, but “we have a lot of work to do.”  Management representatives pointed out that health costs reached more than $1.5 billion and “we too, have an interest in this arena,” a GE spokesman noted.

“That’s a sizeable chunk of change, even by GE’s standards,” Thayer quipped. “But simply shifting even more of the costs onto the workers’ back does little to solve the problems,” he added.

“We have reached tentative agreement on a number of issues, but we have a lot of work left to do and not a lot of time to do it,” he said. Both sides indicated Sunday’s sessions feature a hefty agenda as both sides work to craft an agreement before the current contract expires at midnight.

Thayer explained that members on the shop floor “stand united behind their negotiating team and that solidarity is a keystone to reaching a new agreement” at GE. “Your solidarity sends a strong message,” he said. “Keep up the good work, make your voices heard.”

For negotiations information, go to www.goiam.org