SAGINAW COUNTY (AP) -- UPDATE: Contract fails, workers vote "NO" to new labor contract.
It’s a simple yes or no. Union workers at Nexteer Automotive in Buena Vista Township voted Thursday on a five year contract that would cut wages, but add 500 full-time jobs. As of 11 p.m. votes were still being counted.
NBC25 talked to a long time member of the UAW Local 699. She says a majority of her co-workers at Nexteer are against the contract, and voted no. That's because if it passes, more than 2,000 workers will be required to take a nearly four percent wage cut, that means some employees will take home eight dollars less an hour.
However, the agreement would also make 300 temporary workers full-time, and create an additional 200 jobs by 2015.
The president of UAW Local 699, Troy Newberry, has said in the past that the goal of the contract is to create job security for the steering parts plant and its employees once the plant is sold.
But union members say taking a pay cut should not be part of the plan. "It’s scary, there are a lot of changes that are coming in life and I know that, I do. But, it's just, we have to stand-up, we have to stand up as a union, stand up to fight for what we believe in, and I know a lot of people here at 699 are fighting for what they believe in," said Cindy Twork, UAW Local 699 Member.
If the contract is not approved, negotiations will take place next year. That's when the current union contract expires.
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