CAW members give strong mandate to union negotiators

CANADA: CAW members at the "Big Three" automakers have voted overwhelmingly to give union negotiators the mandate to take strike action if bargaining demands are not met in the final round of talks, to begin the week of August 26. At General Motors as well as DaimlerChrysler, 97 per cent of the CAW workers gave their backing for a strike if the talks fail, and at Ford 95 per cent were in favour of industrial action. The union stated that such results show that their members are determined to achieve new contracts which provide wage gains, job and income security, time off the job as well as benefit and working condition improvements. Current contracts with GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler expire on September 17, 2002.