GM Workers at Van Nuys Approve Pact in Close Vote

Auto workers at the struggling General Motors assembly plant in Van Nuys have narrowly passed what some union members characterized as a concessionary contract, a union official said today.

“We got ratification with 53% in favor,” said Ray Ruiz, bargaining committee chairman of Local 645. “Our workers now stand to gain an increase of wages, and we’ve also broken down some barriers.”

The new contract, tentatively agreed to by GM and United Auto Workers negotiators who say it is the key to the plant’s survival, was initially presented to the local’s 4,200 members for ratification Wednesday.

Despite the vote, the announced July layoff of more than 2,190 assembly workers at the Van Nuys plant will occur as scheduled, a General Motors spokesman said.

“The current layoffs slated for the second shift will not be impacted unless we see a drastic change in sales,” said GM spokesman Carl Scheffer.