Vote on Saturn contract postponed

SPRING HILL (AP) — A vote by Saturn Corp. workers set for Sunday on the United Auto Workers’ contract with the automaker, formally ending a unique relationship between the union and the General Motors subsidiary, has been postponed.

UAW Local 1853 Chairman Mike Herron said the meeting was canceled to give union members a chance to study the proposal. He said the vote would probably be held later this week.

“We’re rolling out the contract in the plant to (Saturn) team members,” Herron said. “What we are doing is giving every one of the team members an opportunity to look at the contract in its entirety.”

The contract was initially accepted in December and would bring the Spring Hill UAW members in line with the International Union contract signed in September.

According to the contract, the local union was given 10 months to iron out the details.

When Saturn first came to Spring Hill, about 30 miles south of Nashville, it was promoted as a new and different kind of car company. Workers forfeited higher wages for protection from layoffs and more input into company decisions.

But GM now wants a labor agreement at Saturn more like the one found in the rest of the company.

The Saturn plant in Spring Hill makes the Ion compact and Vue sport utility vehicle.

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Information from: The Daily Herald, http://www.columbiadailyherald.com