Unifor leaders representing FCA workers criticize counterparts at Ford

Uniforofficials representing Fiat Chrysler workers are accusing union leadership at Ford Motor Co.'s Oakville, Ont. assembly plant of shortsightedness.

This week, Unifor Local 707 president Dave Thomas spoke out about the deal the union's national leadership struck with GM, saying that deal "will not suit the needs of the [Ford]membership in Oakville."

Thomas told Reuters that the Oakville unionlocal wants a deal that would get new hires to the top of the pay grid faster than under the new deal with GM, which maintained the 10-year salary grow-in bargained in 2012.

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But Local 444 presidentDino Chiodo, who represents workers at FCA'sWindsor, Ont. assembly plant is astonished Thomas would take that tack.

"It was Ford Oakville that really helped propose and put the ten year grid together so it's a little bit of an oddity now that they've gotten 2,200 new employees in their facility they're the ones saying that the grid doesn't work," Chiodo said.

"It hurts to think that we sat here together in an auto council Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and we said we were going to support each other and we walked every step of the way," he said."Now that [Oakville Assembly Plant] obviously they've got the support like Windsor Assembly plant,they want to turn their backs on everybody."

Chiodo is also the chair of the bargaining committee negotiating a new contract with FCA. Hesaysthe 10-year grow-in period is necessary to keep auto plants in Canada.

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"There isa real ability here for corporations in this global economy to take their money and invest it in other countries," he said.

When it comes to the current round of negotiations with FCA, Chiodo said he's cautiously optimistic a strike can be avoided.

"Our intent is not to go on strike that's not where we want to be," he said."We want to get a conclusion to this because nobody wins if a strike occurs."

The strike deadline in those negotiations is Oct. 10.