UAW Reports Progress in AMC Talks : Auto Maker Threatening to Close Wisconsin Plants

MILWAUKEE —  The chief negotiator for American Motors said Thursday that the car maker and the United Auto Workers were making progress in contract talks on the eve of a company-imposed deadline to keep its Wisconsin plants open.

“There have been adjustments made on both sides,” Richard Calmes said.

But he said there was a lot to discuss as the two sides sat down to consider the company’s latest contract proposal.

Job security is the major issue in the talks, according to Calmes and Rudy Kuzel, president of UAW Local 72 in Kenosha.

Earlier Thursday, Kuzel said that AMC has not been sufficiently responsive.

“They haven’t answered everything we’ve asked them,” Kuzel said.

Leaders of Local 72 and Local 75 in Milwaukee met in caucus Thursday morning to discuss the company’s latest offer.

Employ 7,400

“We’re trying to accommodate their needs and balance them against the needs of our members,” Kuzel said.

AMC has said it must have a negotiated contract by today or it will begin steps to close down its Wisconsin plants, which employ 7,400 people.

However, Calmes added, “we will not take steps to close down the plants if we arrive at an agreement here. We’ll await the union (membership) vote.”

Kuzel said members could not vote until July 8 because the Kenosha plants are on a temporary vacation shutdown.

Nick Romano, president of Local 75, said that he and the local’s executive board would make a recommendation to the members by this morning.

“I don’t know what way that recommendation is going,” he added.

Ray Majerus, UAW secretary-treasurer, said he was still awaiting the company’s response to several union requests.

“We keep looking for that elusive word ‘progress.’ ” he said. “They owe us some additional responses to the proposals we made.”