Mystery surrounds the ratification vote to determine the fate of a tentative agreement between Mitsubishi Motors North America and United Auto Workers union Local 2488.
Both sides have declined comment about the deal, which was struck Sept. 26, while the union has even remained silent about its plans for a ratification vote. But a man who answers the telephone at Local 2488 headquarters in Bloomington, IL, suggests the tentative contract could face significant opposition when details are presented to the 1,300 workers represented by the union.
Upon being congratulated for reaching a deal, the man says: “I wouldn’t go that far.”
The agreement was finalized after an 18-day bargaining hiatus sparked by the union’s rejection of a company offer.
Local 2488 members, who assemble the Galant midsize sedan, Eclipse and Spyder sports cars and the Endeavor cross/utlity vehicle at Mitsubishi’s plant in Normal, IL, have continued to report for work even though their contract expired Sept. 5. But an insider tells Ward’s they have not been informed about the timing of their ratification vote.
Through August, Mitsubishi sales were down 22.4% vs. like-2007, according to Ward’s data.
Endeavor deliveries showed the most resilience of any Mitsubishi light truck. But its sales still were down 40.2%.
However, sales of Normal’s car lines sank further than the imported Mitsubishi Lancer C-car, 11.7% to 7.4%.
