St. Louis Auto Mechanics Approve Contract Proposal

Auto mechanics in St. Louis approved a contract proposal Sunday, a major step toward ending a three-week strike.

Members of the St. Louis Automotive Dealers Assn. also must approve the proposal, offered by a federal mediator.

The mechanics voted 783 to 593 for the proposal. About 1,700 mechanics of the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 9 have been striking since Aug. 1 at 69 dealerships in the St. Louis and in St. Louis and St. Charles counties.

According to the union, mechanics would get a raise of 75 cents per hour this year, another 75 cents next year and 50 cents the following year. Pension benefits also would increase.

The auto dealers had proposed a Tuesday-through-Saturday workweek, though that was not part of the final contract proposal.

If the auto dealers vote today, the mechanics could be back at work Tuesday.