UAW, CAW take issue with potential merger (GM-CHRYSLER MERGER TALKS)

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said this morning that he's against a General Motors-Chrysler LLC merger if it costs union jobs.

Speaking on a Detroit radio station, Gettelfinger said most UAW analysts believe a GM-Chrysler merger would be bad for the union.

"I personally would not want to see anything that would result in a consolidation if that would mean the elimination of additional jobs," Gettelfinger said. "But until we get into actual discussions, we can't just speculate on what is going to happen. We have to know the situation, and then we can deal with it."

Gettelfinger said the union has helped automakers survive in the past and would continue to "work with the companies to move business forward." As examples, he cited the 2005 midcontract agreement that gave health care concessions and the 2007 agreement that reduced production costs.

Gettelfinger said the focus of the membership remains on the quality of the vehicles they build and that they would "stay the course."

He added that the labor movement is needed now more than at its inception.

"What unions bring is the people's side to the ledger," he said. "Workers need a voice."

He praised Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's Monday speech in Toledo, Ohio. Obama talked about creating jobs, tax relief, extending unemployment benefits and a 90-day moratorium on home foreclosures.

When asked if he would consider a Cabinet job in the national administration if asked to serve, Gettelfinger said he was focused on the election.

"I am very, very happy with my position of UAW president," he said. "I have no intention of leaving this position until I retire."

Meanwhile, the CAW has asked GM and Chrysler to clarify whether they are considering a merger, since any such transaction would risk "massive consolidation and massive job losses," CAW President Ken Lewenza said earlier today.

"We have already tried to contact the companies. We're waiting for calls back," Lewenza told Reuters in a phone interview from Toronto. "The workers are going into the plant today with the same unease based on all of the speculation and news reports over the weekend."

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081014/ANA02/310149934/1128 (subscription only)