The Michigan Daily--Saturday, August 3, 1979-Page 3
Chrysler asks UJAW for wage freeze
From UPI and AP
DETROIT - In a dramatic display of his com-
pany's determination to solve its financial problems,
Chrysler Corp. President Lee Iacocca yesterday
asked the United Auto Workers (UAW) for a two-year
freeze on wages and benefits.
The appeal was delivered in an unprecedented
head-to-head meeting between Iacocca and the
UAW's international bargaining team at Chrysler.
UAW PRESIDENT Douglas Fraser countered
with a detailed plan for the federal government to
purchase $1 billion in Chrysler stock. Chrysler, in
turn, has asked the government for $1 billion in tax
relief and a two-year waiver of auto emission stan-
dards.
Fraser said the union's immediate reaction to the
request for a wage freeze was skeptical and negative.
A union freeze could save Chrysler $280 million
each year.
"Obviously, the demand is far beyond anything the
committee could seriously accept," Fraser said.
Walkout
continues;
no further
talks slated
By PATRICIA HAGEN
'More than 300 skilled trades workers
continued picketing on campus and at
University Hospital yesterday.
Mediated, negotiators between
representatives for the campus union
and the University stalled Thursday af-
ternoon, and no further talks have been
scheduled, according to negotiators.
Bargainers for both sides said no
progress had been made in the Detroit
meeting with the mediator from the
Michigan Employment Relations
Commission.
UNIVERSITY negotiator Arlie
Braman said, "The mediator is not
(immediately) available" for further
talks. He added that he did not know SKILL
when the next session would be held. The woI
Like union representatives, Braman supervisor
would not predict when a settlement strike, ac
would be reached but said, "There is a defined an
good possibility for a settlement if we deaitati
could just find a base." death situati
Emergency repairs and services on especiallya
campus will continue to be provided by THE 311a-
Sa v
Skinny-dip, anyone?
An unidentified Columbia, Md. 18-year-old decid-
ed a moonlit swim would be fun, so he jumped into a
community pool-completely naked. Unfor-
tunately, local police found his clothes as he was
swimming, forcing him to make the trip home in the
same state of undress. The police very kindly
decided not tc file charges, saying that the
humiliation was punishment enough, and simply
dropped his clothes off at an address found in the
youth's wallet.
Peanuts before politics
It seems at least one member of the president's
family has taken the hint about Carters in politics.
President Carter's eldest son Jack announced
yesterday that he will not run for Congress from
Georgia's seventh district becasue he intends to ex-
pand his grain business to include a soybean
cleaning operation. The younger Carter also cited
his fear that campaigning would put "a burden" on
his family, as a reason for not running. Carter ad-
ded that he had not told his father yet about his
IN THE PAST, the union has given weaker com-
panies concessions - in 1954, Studebaker workers
threatened with mass layoffs took wage cuts of 10-15
per cent. But a Big Three automaker has never asked
for concessions, much less a wage freeze.
Fraser said the union decided to call an emergency
convention of the UAW's leadership at Chrysler in
both the United States and Canada to discuss the
company's financial position and special demands.
The union leader said he thought there could be no
response until after contract settlements with
General Motors (GM) and Ford. But, Fraser said,
"Our leadership has never turned its back on its duty
and responsibility."
IACOCCA, MEETING with the bargaining com-
mittee for approximately two hours, outlined the No.
3 automaker's recent financial losses and made a
detailed presentation of the company's 1981 car line
- including smaller fuel-efficient vehicles Chrysler
hopes will restore it to financial health.
The meeting came at the end of the third week of
contract talks for 750,000 Big Three auto workers.
In the current slump affecting the entire auto in-
dustry, Chrysler has fallen to a domestic market
share of only 9.7 per cent. For 1976, it was 16per cent.
THE COMPANY reported a $207.1 million loss in
the second quarter of this year, and some analysts
believe Chrysler's losses could go as high as $500
million this year.
Both the company and the union say that gover-
nment safety, fuel economy and exhaust emission
regulations have played a major role in Chrysler's
financial setbacks.
Fraser lashed out angrily at GM Chairman Thomas
Murphy, who reportedly expressed opposition to
federal intervention in Chrysler's fate - an area in
which Fraser said Murphy "hasn't got any goddam
business."
Asked about his obvious anger at the GM chair-
man, Fraser said: "Well, he's a horse's ass."
Daily rPoto uy LIAK uLuarR
ED TRADES WORKERS like Doug Tripplett, Joe Mahler, and Steve Breakfield are striking across campus.
rkers have been off the job since midnight Tuesday.
y personnel during the went on strike when their two-year con- unit is represented by the Washtenaw
cording to Braman. He tract with the University expired at County Building Trades Board of Direc-
emergency as a "life or midnight Tuesday. The group is com- tors.
ion," destruction of proper- prised of University electricians, pain- Un ion negotiator Dick Mericle said
sruption of services" - ters, masons, heavy equipment nothing was accomplished in the
t the hospital. operators, and construction, roofing, session with the state mediator, despite
-MEMBER trades council sheet metal, and machine workers. The See UNION, Page 6
decision not to run for Congress.
Happenings ...
... start off today with something for the kids.
The Child Care Referral Service is sponsoring
"chilldren's Festival '79" at West Park. Children
should bring with them a lunch and an
adult . . . from 10 a.m until 4 p.m., there will be a
quilting demonstration and sale at the Coe House
Museum, 371 W. Michigan Ave. Call 971-3148 for in-
formation . .. the Ann Arbor Medieval Festival
continues this weekend, starting at10 a.m. at the
Music School lawn on North Campus . . . at 4 p.m.,
Mark Cudek and Rodney Stuckey, faculty members
at Interlochen, will play the lute at 4 p.m. in the
School of Music Recital Hall . . Summer
Reperatory Theatre presents "Much Ado About
Nothing" at 8 p.m. in the Power Center-... "The
Son of Getron' will be presented as part of the
Medieval Festival at 9 p.m. at St. Thomas Church at
the corner of State and Kingsley'
streets ... FILMS: Ann Arbor Film Co-op-Carnal
Knowledge, 7 p.m., 10:20 p.m.; The Fortune, 8:40
p.m.; both in Aud. 3, MLB ... Cinema II-The Thin
Man, 7:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., Aud. A, Angell
Hall ... Cinema Guild--Midnight Cowboy, 7:30
p.m., 9:30 p.m., Old A and D Aud.... SUNDAY, the
Ann Arbor Medival Festival continues starting at 10
a.m. on the lawn of the School of Music on. North
Campus . . . Summer Repertory Theatre present
"Much Ado About Nothing" at 2 p.m. in the Power
Center . . . the University Summer Session Choir
will perform in Hill Auditorium at 8 p.m. FILMS:
Cinema Guild-Tabu, 8 p.m., Old A and D
Aud.... MONDAY, at noon, the Interfaith Council
for Peace and the Coalition for a New Foreign and
Military Policy are presenting a prayer service at
the Federal Building downtown at noon . .. Leen'T
Hart, director of the Netherland Carillon School,
will perform at Burton Tower at 7 p.m. - . . the
Musical Society present Ruggiero Ricci, violinist, in
Rackham Aud. at 8:30 p.m.
On the outside
Mostly sunshine today, with a small threat of
scattered thundershowers in the late afternoon. The
temperatures will soar to near 90', so it looks like a
hot, muggy Saturday.