Chrysler town and country

Email to a friend Printer friendly Font: * * * * John Wilkerson, a spokesman for TRW, also said he couldn’t confirm or deny whether or not a meeting had occurred. “I haven’t heard anything one way or the other,” said Wilkerson. “All I can say is that there’s nothing new to report.” The impact of the CAW’s strike against TRW was felt almost immediately by Chrysler, which idled its minivan assembly plant on Thursday within hours of the TRW shutdown.

The shutdown continued with the cancellation of Monday’s midnight shift. Meanwhile, the strike has not only shut down operations at the minivan plant but it’s also having a ripple effect at other auto parts suppliers throughout the area, affecting roughly 1,400 people. Production has ceased at Johnson Controls Inc., Integram Seating, HBPO Canada, Oakley Sub Assembly, Dakkota Integrated Systems and Syncreon Automotive (formerly known as TDS Logistics) until further notice.

All these companies supply parts to the assembly plant, where 5,000 workers have been off the job. Ken Lewenza, president of CAW Local 444 which represents the 175 workers as well as Chrysler workers, said Monday he hadn’t heard from either Chrysler or TRW but “we’re willing to return to the bargaining table at any time.” Representatives of both sides in the dispute have said they want negotiations to resume but so far, no new sessions have been scheduled.

TRW’s Wilkerson said: “I really don’t know why talks haven’t resumed. But I’m hopeful they will resume quickly.” The two sides haven’t met since the strike began last Thursday.