Chrysler news

CAW union leaders said TRW workers left their posts after they couldn’t reach an agreement with the supplier on wages. “Talks have broken off,” said CAW Local 444 President Ken Lewenza. “We’re digging in our heels for a long one.” TRW managers tried to keep the just over 1-year-old plant running by working the line Thursday afternoon, but that effort apparently failed.

“We’re hopeful about getting back to the table and coming to a resolution soon, but there are no scheduled talks at this time,” TRW spokesman John Wilkerson said. The CAW, which represents 175 members at the plant, officially struck at 3 p.m., but stayed on the premises for more than an hour before taking up picket signs. Local leaders asked workers to stay in case a last-minute deal was reached.

The CAW is pushing for wages on par with other Canadian auto suppliers such as Magna International Inc. Workers at the TRW plant earn $11.25 per hour in Canadian currency and are seeking $15 an hour. “We just want to be paid equally and fairly,” said Ryan Kelly, who works in shipping. He said his job is barely worth holding at its current wage. “I made more working at Tim Horton’s — it’s a joke,” Kelly said.

Comparing Magna and TRW is not quite apples to apples, said Aaron Bragman, automotive analyst at Global Insight Inc. He said the CAW agreed to a no-strike clause and other special provisions in its recent deal with Magna. A short strike is unlikely to seriously impact Chrysler, Bragman said. The automaker has ample inventory of its minivans and also produces the vehicles at a Missouri plant, which is unaffected by the strike.