New UAW-FCA tentative contract deals with health care & two tier wages

Bargainers for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the United Auto Workers have agreed to a tentative four year contract. No details of the deal will be released until FCA’s 39,000 workers vote on the agreement. FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne says the agreement addresses the two tier wage issue but he declined to say how it will be resolved. He also says health care is an important part of the contract and talks will continue during the life of the contract on how to deal with escalating health care costs. UAW President Dennis Williams says some parts of the agreement can be used as a pattern as the UAW now turns to Ford and GM negotiations but each company will be dealt with differently. Both the union and the automaker complimented each other on the tone of the negotiations. Marchionne says the UAW has matured with regard to how it deals with the automakers and Williams says the two sides had a relationship where they could soundly disagree but then get up the next day and talk again.