Chicago, Ill.—Chicago’s auto-mechanics’ union announced Sept. 17 that it had reached an agreement with car dealers in the area, ending a strike by almost 2,000 workers that had lasted almost seven weeks. The proposed contract includes “a significant wage increase across the board and the mechanics’ No. 1 issue of increasing their base pay two additional hours over the term of the agreement,” Automobile Mechanics Local 701 said in a statement. The deal would also shorten the length of apprenticeships from 10 to five years and give senior-level journeymen technicians more flexibility to take family time off. “We wrestled them down, defending each of their moves to where they finally tapped out,” Local 701 directing business representative Sam Cicinelli said. “They waved the white flag and capitulated to our demands.” The deal is similar to the interim agreements that about half the 130 dealers affected by the strike had already signed, the union added. Read more
