A new labor agreement has been approved by the United Autoworkers that may lead to the end of their unique labor agreement with GM?s Saturn Division. The deal was approved by a wide margin of the members who agreed to a Christmas bonus, a performance bonus, and raises, in exchange for allowing GM to layoff employees for the first time in Saturn history. The agreement also allows for both sides to continue negotiation towards a traditional umbrella contract for next year, with the current agreement remaining in effect for four years if those negotiations fail.
See "Saturn, UAW Ratify New Labor Agreement", Associated Press, The New York Times, December 14, 2003