Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Turnaround at Royal Oak Ford
Workers ratify new contract; UAW pledges support for unionized dealership
A successful solidarity campaign, mobilizing UAW members and supporters across the Detroit metropolitan area, has resulted in a major contract victory for auto technicians, service and parts workers, body shop technicians and porters at Royal Oak Ford in Royal Oak, Mich.
“The economic gains we’ve been able to secure are great,” said technician Warren Dolbeer, a 10-year employee and member of the bargaining team. “But just as important to us, now we have the security and fair treatment that only a union contract can guarantee.”
“We are proud to urge UAW members, union families, and everyone who cares about fair treatment of workers to purchase and service their vehicles at Royal Oak Ford,” said UAW Region 1 Director Joe Peters.
“Previously, when the company didn’t treat workers fairly, we worked hard to make sure all of our UAW members in the greater Detroit area knew what was happening,” said UAW Vice President Bob King, who directs the union’s Independents, Parts and Suppliers (IPS) Department. “Now that there has been a change in management of the dealership, a new contract, and fair treatment of workers, we’re going to work equally hard to encourage people to support this dealership, where workers have a union contract and a voice on the job.”
Dolbeer and a majority of his co-workers voted in favor of union representation in February of 2006, with the promise of a partnership with management to encourage customers to visit a union-represented car dealership.
Unfortunately, although the company advertised itself as “the only UAW-represented dealership in Metro Detroit,” resulting in a significant boost in sales, the previous management stalled contract talks and failed to bargain in good faith.
Beginning in May of 2007 UAW members and supporters began leafleting outside the dealership, informing consumers about management behavior. Traffic in the Royal Oak showroom dropped significantly. Royal Oak Ford decided to make significant changes in management, and the new managers took a new approach to bargaining.
With new management in place, a new contract was reached. The first contract agreement was ratified by workers at Royal Oak on Nov. 20, 2007. The pact raises hourly pay rates for all workers and provides a $400 signing bonus. Workers will also have a grievance procedure, receive more paid vacation, and for the first time will have paid personal time off as well. The employee health plan was protected under the new contract with increases in company contributions.
“The job security, that’s priceless,” said bargaining committee member Brian Carlsen, a 10-year service technician at Royal Oak Ford. “And we worked in a fair pay raise for everyone across the board. But we’re not just trying to get more for ourselves; we’re looking to make the dealership number 1 in the state.” “This is a great contract, and a great victory for workers at Royal Oak Ford,” said King. “It shows the power that workers have when we act together, in the workplace and as consumers – and we’re going to continue to show our power by urging union members and families to come to Royal Oak Ford.”
The UAW represents workers at more than 100 auto dealerships nationwide, including Mathews Ford in Oregon, Ohio; CR Motors, a Chrysler dealership in Hudson, Michigan; and BMW of Ann Arbor and Mercedes of Ann Arbor.