Talks between United Auto Workers and Case New Holland resume: 'We're going in a positive direction'
An end to the United Auto Workers strike of Case New Holland Industrial may be near.
Representatives of Burlington's UAW Local 807 and Racine, Wisconsin's UAW Local 180, have been in Madison, Wisconsin, since Monday to resume contract negotiations with CNH.
Nick Guernsey, president of Local 807, which represents about 430 UAW members at CNH's Burlington plant, said he is doubtful an agreement will be reached by the end of this week, but that progress is being made.
"We're going in a positive direction," Guernsey told The Hawk Eye on Wednesday. "As long as both sides are talking, I'm pretty positive we're going to get in a direction we need. It just might not happen this week."
CNH agreed Friday to resume talks after receiving a written proposal from the UAW.
The return to the negotiating table on Tuesday came three weeks after initial talks between the two parties disintegrated, coming to a halt a day after the union's previous contract expired at midnight April 30. That contract was extended on an hourly basis until the morning of May 2, when the UAW instructed its Burlington and Racine workers to walk out at noon.
Since then, union workers have been picketing outside their respective plants while replacement workers have been brought in.
More: Burlington members of United Auto Workers Local 807 continue strike as replacement workers fill in
Guernsey said some progress has been made on wages, but discussions will continue regarding pay as well as vacation time, health insurance plans and 401k contributions.
According to previous UAW estimates, Guernsey said, CNH's non-union plants pay about $5.50 per hour more than the union plants in Burlington and Racine, but the company still has not provided information about pay at other plants to the UAW.
Workers are seeking more flexibility on when they can use their vacation time. Under the previous contract, vacation time could be used only during the plant's summer shutdown.
More: 'I did not want to cross a picket line': Engineer quits at Case New Holland in solidarity with union
The union also is pushing for better health insurance, the details of which have not been publicly discussed.
Health care benefits for UAW members transitioned from being provided by CNH to being provided by the UAW on May 14. That coverage consists only of major medical and prescriptions.
The UAW Strike and Defense Fund is paying for the health care coverage, as well as the UAW's $275 per week strike payments.
Until an agreement has been made, CNH's union workers will continue to work the picket lines in four-hour shifts.
Michaele Niehaus covers business, development, environment and agriculture for The Hawk Eye. She can be reached at mniehaus@thehawkeye.com.
This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Negotiations resume between United Auto Workers, CNH amid strike
