Behr looks to attract additional work

Now that its hourly workers are under contract, company is out to attract more work.

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By Thomas Gnau, Staff Writer 7:49 PM 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 St. makes heating, ventilation and air-conditioning parts for automotive customers.

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Dump Devon Thompson!

Pete M
4:04 AM, 11/26/2009

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Myself I've been working most the overtime I can. I save 10% of my reg. paycheck + overtime after taxes. I have $78,000 set aside at this time (Yes I'm a new hire). Two or three more years will help me save just a little bit more. It's my plan that when I turn 60 to open a small coffee shop in a small town. My family knows my long term goals and their happy with it. Plus I'm showing my kids that having a new car and things are nice but long term goals are better...

ready to retire
12:55 AM, 11/26/2009

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We (HB line and Flat tube) found up that after the Jan. 1st are jobs are gone. Going to Mexico 6 months early. 108 Jobs where's DDN story on that?...

End of June 2010 all of Heater Core is Gone. Yep going to Mexico plant 150+ jobs...

Do you know that all the lines in North building are being moved to South building? Did you know that Behr has not put new work order in for all of Chrysler lines? 400 jobs gone in itself gone by end of 2011...Long live Behr Dayton

John
12:49 AM, 11/26/2009

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Don't hold your breath. How many union employees are scheduled to be laid off after Christmas vacation to adjust for production orders? It is coming. Behr will not be competive with the workers they have in this shop. The workers there need to find another field of work to get into that will be needed. You people that are supporting a family at that place need to step back and look at your situation. If that place closes tomorrow, what are you going to do? You need to think like that.

Rose colored glasses
12:01 AM, 11/26/2009

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