Chrysler Resumes Minivan Production with Supplier Strike Settled
March 06, 2008

By Joseph Szczesny

WINDSOR, Canada — Chrysler has resumed production of its 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan now that one of its key suppliers of minivan parts has settled a strike by its workers.

The Canadian Auto Workers and supplier TRW Automotive have settled a contract dispute that had halted production of minivans at Chrysler’s Windsor, Ontario, assembly plant since last week. Workers received higher pay from the deal.

The 175 members of CAW Local 444 employed by TRW Automotive in Windsor have ratified a new labor agreement, which boosts the wages of the average worker from $11.25 to $15 an hour, CAW officials said. Over the course of the three-year agreement, wages also will increase by $1 in Year 2 and by another $1 in Year 3, bringing the average wage to $17 an hour in Canadian currency by the end of the contract.

TRW spokesman John Wilkerson said the company’s Windsor plant, which feeds suspension parts to the Chrysler minivan assembly plant, was quickly put back into operation Wednesday. Production also resumed at Chrysler's Windsor assembly plant, Chrysler spokeswoman Michelle Tinson said.

Photo by Chrysler: Worker puts the finishing touches on a Dodge Grand Caravan at the Windsor, Canada, assembly plant, now back in production after a strike by a supplier there.

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