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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-8211
I'm very pleased that the United Auto Workers and the General Motors
Company have just reached a tentative agreement ending the 54-day strike. The
President just spoke with both parties--Jack Smith of the General Motors
Company and Steve Yokich of the United Auto Workers. He congratulated both
parties and he told them that this was not only a good tentative agreement for
the company and the union, but that it was good for the country. This tentative
agreement ensures that we will continue on sound economic footing and that we
will continue to move in the right direction.
The collective bargaining process is not always a pretty process.
Obviously this strike was hard on the workers and their families. It was hard
on the communities that were involved. It was hard on the company. But in the
end, the collective bargaining process worked.
This is a classic example, I believe, of what it means to have
bargaining by the parties and not bargaining by the government. I want to pay
special tribute to the negotiators who were at the table. In recent days they
worked literally around the clock to reach this tentative agreement. I also
want to pay special tribute to both Jack Smith and Steve Yokich for their
leadership. I was pleased to be able to work with them through this process.
And as for me, my biggest challenge now is to get both of their phone numbers
out of my head.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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