Dayton Business Journal...
UAW members want end to tiered wages
Monday, August 15, 2011 

Some members of the United Auto Workers union gathered on Saturday to demand the union no longer agree to the multi-tiered wage system during new contract talks with Detroit’s Big Three automakers. The outcome of that deal could have a big impact on Dayton-area manufacturers that supply parts to the automakers. 

The Wall Street Journal reported the union members included those who work at all three of the Detroit giants - Chrysler , Ford Motor Co. and General Motors - as well as for some parts makers that are covered by the UAW. 

The UAW has approved a two-tiered wage system that calls for lower wages for some workers in past contracts, and this marks the first time the union’s members have publicly voiced opposition to the system, according to the Journal. 

Any labor talks among the union, which has tens of thousands of members in the Dayton region, including at the Navistar International Corp. truck assembly plant in Springfield, could have a big impact on the local area. 

The Dayton region relies heavily on manufacturing, with many supplying parts to automakers such as Ford and GM. In addition, West Chester-based AK Steel Holding sells steel to many of the big automakers, with up to $1 billion worth of sales each year. 

Read it at the Dayton Business Journal