DaimlerChrysler Canada, Union Avert Strike With Tentative Collective Agreement.(Brief Article)

DaimlerChrysler Canada and the Canadian Auto Workers' (CAW) union agreed on a tentative contract that commits the auto company to bring new investment to the Windsor, Canada area. There are some outstanding issues that remain to be resolved, hopefully in the next few days, CAW head "Buzz" Hargrove said.

The economic offer is based on the pattern agreement reached with General Motors of Canada and subsequently adopted by Ford Motor Co. of Canada.

DaimlerChrysler Canada Chairman, President and CEO Ed Brust said that the agreement will create significant new employment in the Windsor area some time toward the end of 2005. The company also said an additional 660 jobs will be created next year in conjunction with the launch of the all-new 2003 Chrysler Pacifica and model changes to current minivans at the Windsor (Ontario) Assembly Plant.

The Windsor area investment will minimize the effect on employees due to the phasing out of production at the Pillette (Ontario) assembly plant at the end of 2003.

The tentative agreement, which now must be ratified by the CAW membership, represents the culmination of a major investment effort, added DaimlerChrysler Canada Vice President of Human Resources Phil Bezaire.

"Over the three years of this contract, we will invest $1.46 billion in our Canadian operations, excluding the new Windsor investment," he said.

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