Behr, union reach accord (FIRST IN 12 YEARS)

http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/10/06/ddn100607behr.html

Members of IUE-CWA must ratify the agreement, the first in 12 years at the Webster Street plant.


Click-2-Listen: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/10/06/ddn100607behr.html#

By Thomas Gnau

Staff Writer

Saturday, October 06, 2007

DAYTON — For the first time in 12 years, the owner of an auto parts plant on Webster Street and its union have a tentative agreement.

Behr America and the International Union of Electronic Workers-Communication Workers of America announced the possible contract Friday.

Next members of an IUE-CWA local will be asked to ratify the contract. Sue Seigfried, president of Local 775, said her 1,500 to 1,600 members who are hourly workers at the plant may see a tentative pact for ratification by next Friday.

Seigfried said talks with Behr were "extremely difficult," and there are still "language issues" to iron out. She attributed success so far to "a united front of the membership, right up to the top."

To amplify the point, Seigfried spoke surrounded in a press conference by six members of her bargaining committee, along with Jim Clark, IUE-CWA president, and Harry Bogan, director of her IUE-CWA region.

Union officials would not release details of the tentative agreement, saying they wanted to brief their members first.

FULL story and Related: What's your reaction to the agreement? at link.