Press Release
UAW Announces Ratification of Contract with GM's Saturn
12/24/96
UAW Announces Ratification of New Agreement at Saturn DETROIT, Dec. 19 -- UAW President Stephen P. Yokich and Vice President Richard Shoemaker, who directs the union's General Motors Department, announced today that UAW-represented workers at Saturn have voted to ratify a new agreement by a margin of 72% to 28%. Highlights of the new agreement include: a $2,000 lump sum payment for 1997, paid out in 1996, and a wage increase of 3% in 1998 and in 1999, 49 paid holidays, a $.30 per hour skilled trades allowance in 1998, improvements in the dental and the prescription drug plans, and significant increases in Life, Disability and Survivor Income insurance. Other contract gains include: the addition of a legal services plan in 1998, pension plan improvements to both the Saturn and the GM pensions, significant improvements to health insurance and first-ever tuition assistance for children of UAW-Saturn members and retirees, and for UAW-Saturn retirees. The ratification vote was conducted on December 17 and 18 and covers approximately 7,200 UAW-represented Saturn workers in local 1853 in Spring Hill, Tennessee, and approximately 100 UAW-represented workers in Local 1810 in Troy, Michigan.