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Behr contract passage raises possibility of new work

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By Thomas Gnau, Staff Writer 10:59 AM Wednesday, November 25, 2009

DAYTON — With passage of a contract covering hourly workers, a spokeswoman for Behr Thermal Products said Wednesday, Nov. 25 that current work will remain in Dayton while the company tries to bring in new work.

But the spokeswoman, Indira Sadikovic, cautioned that new work depends on customer needs. Asked if the auto parts plant with its approximately 770 active hourly workers is on track to win additional work, Sadikovic said, “That would be fair to say.”

“There’s no doubt that the work is staying there,” she said. “The goal of the contract was to make this plant competitive.”

She added, “We have to win new orders.”

On Tuesday, members of the International Union of Electronic Workers-Communication Workers of America Local 775 passed a tentative four-year contract 538-261, union leaders said. Last month, workers rejected another proposal.

Harry Bogan, an IUE-CWA district director, feels the plant has a shot at additional work.

“As we were going through this negotiating process, the company felt that if we could get this agreement ratified, they would be in a position to get some new work,” he said Wednesday.

“There are four or five competitors that they (Behr) have, and all of them are weak,” Bogan added. Those competitors include Valeo and Delphi, he said.

Said Bogan, “It all comes to being competitive.”

About 87 workers at the Dayton plant are considered “tier I” or “tier II” employees with relatively higher wages, Bogan said. The rest make about $13 an hour, he said. With this contract, they will see raises of 75 cents an hour, he said.

The plant at 1600 Webster makes heating, ventilation and air-conditioning parts for automotive customers.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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