Will 3rd time be a charm? Auto union to vote again on contract in bid to keep NY plant open

Union bids again to keep NY plant open

EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Members of a New York United Auto Workers union are voting for a third time to try to save a suburban Syracuse parts plant from closing.

Members of UAW Local 624 are meeting to vote on a new contract that includes wage and benefit concessions union officials hope will keep the New Process Gear plant open.

Workers have twice rejected contracts that could have kept the parent company, Magna International Inc., from closing the struggling plant.

After the second rejection, the Canadian company began closing the factory, which makes parts for trucks and sport utility vehicles. It employs 1,400 workers.

Union officials say the new proposal wasn’t negotiated with Magna, but they hope it passes and they can convince the company to reconsider.