By Mark Wozniak & Eileen Buckley
Lockport, NY – Senior management at Delphi Thermal Systems says the future of the Lockport plant may be in jeopardy. Despite a national vote of 68% approving a new contract that calls for sharp wage cuts, the deal was voted down by Lockport workers by a four to one margin.
The News reports that Delphi president Ronald Pirtle sent a letter to Lockport plant manager Scott Kitkowski, saying that the vote casts doubts on the ability to make the plant competitive.
UAW Local 6-86 president Paul Siejack, which represents the Lockport workers, said he has not read the Pirtle letter. Last week, Siejack told WBFO News the local workers would stand to lose the biggest wage and benefit reductions, that is why the voted down the contract.
Siejack says local members were angry that the contract would save the bankrupt company while forcing its workers to take pay cuts as top management receives bonuses.