United Auto Workers union members widely rejected a tentative contract offered by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, dealing a blow to the union’s president after he championed the deal as a fair bargain that addressed the inequities workers complained about, the Wall Street Journal reported today. A tally of local voting results showed defeat of the agreement; however, the UAW has yet to officially release a statement confirming the vote. It is the first time a tentative national labor contract has been rejected by UAW members in 30 years, underscoring the level of discontent among factory workers and uncertainty about product commitments from the U.S.-Italian auto maker. UAW President Dennis Williams now needs to go back to the bargaining table to redraw an agreement that can be used as a pattern with General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co.
