UAW Approves Faurecia Contract

Members of in Saline voted to ratify its contract with Faurecia Friday, according to a news release issued by the union.

According to the release, the deal was approved by 75 percent of the production workers and 86 percent of skilled trade workers at the plant, which Ford Motor Company has been trying to sell for years.

UAW members will receive a $2,500 bonus for signing the contract. The deal calls for an hourly wage of $11 for new production workers. That wage rises to $12.50 after 12 months, $14.00 after 24 months and $15.50 after 36 months.

Skilled trades workers hire in and stay at $24-26 an hour.

All employees accepting a position with Faurecia will retain their wage for the first year of the deal. After a year, all employees making more than $15.50 will be assume the $15.50 wage. Single workers will pay $12.59 a week for medical and prescription drugs. Workers covering a family will pay $38.96. Dental coverage is $2.31 weekly for single coverage or $4.63 weekly for family coverage. They will also pay $15-$30 co-payments for doctors office visits

Faurecia, meanwhile, remains mum on the sale of the . Reached Friday, a spokesperson for the company said Faurecia had nothing to add to the nearly month-old for the Saline plant.

"Faurecia is exploring the acquisition of the Saline, Michigan, interior components plant operated by Automotive Components Holdings, LLC," said Stacie Tong, director of communications for Faurecia North America, on March 20. "Faurecia is in negotiations with a number of parties, including Ford and the UAW, regarding the future of the Saline plant and will issue further statements if and when the status of these negotiations changes."

, UAW Local 892 President Mark Caruso said Faurecia will continue operating at the Saline plant, using just 25 percent of 1.6 million-square-foot factory. Most of the assembly work and more than 600 jobs will be transferred to Detroit Manufacturing Systems, LLC, he said. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation awarded a $4.1 million tax credit to Detroit Manufacturing Systems which, according to MEDC minutes from Dec. 13, 2011, proposes to establish a vehicle component manufacturing facility in the City of Detroit. The company is planning to ramp-up production in 2012-2013, according to the minutes. The project will also be supported by a 15-year tax break from the City of Detroit.

The union local has also put its building on the market and hopes to purchase a new home somewhere between Saline and Detroit, according to Caruso.