Delta Township Vote

According to Local 602 President, Doug Rademacher, almost 74% of men and women voted in favor of the new Delta Township plant local contract.

What makes this most recent strike different from the more typical disagreements between management and the UAW is that neither side was fighting over things like health care or a pay raise.

This dispute was over the entire operating contract for the Delta Township plant.

Ever since it opened, it's been the crown jewel of General Motors automotive technology.  It's a state of the art work environment that requires its own set of operating instructions.

That's a problem when you're dealing with a decade old contract based on obsolete systems.

That's why Local 602 demanded a new contract and was willing to strike to get it. But the decision to do so wasn't an easy one to make.

Picketer Bob David had this to say about the strike, "I don't think anybody wanted to go on strike in the first place. Its not an option that I think they exercise easily."

So, even though the decision wasn't made lightly, auto workers say they stand by it, and their leadership.

Local 602 member, Don Williams, said, "The middle class is under attack and the union is on the forefront protecting the middle class and I feel that the jobs we save today are going to be our children's tomorrow."

Now that the men and women of Local 602 have made their stand and their point, they say it's time to wrap things up.

Auto worker, Charlie Turman said, "I'm ready to get back to work and I'm sure everybody else is. I think that our shop committee's done an excellent job in negotiating this contract."

Skilled trades will be back on the job Sunday night.  Regular production will start with first shift Monday morning and continue with the second shift that afternoon.