United Auto Workers chief rejects lower wage proposal, pledges to bridge gap between pay tiers

The leader of the United Auto Workers union has rejected a third tier of lower wages for members who make auto parts.

Speaking at the union's bargaining convention in Detroit, President Dennis Williams said the UAW already has too many tiers of wages.

Williams was responding to reports that General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. may propose a third tier of pay. He already is under pressure from union members to end a second tier of wages that's about half the $28 per hour made by longtime workers.

He told members at the convention about bridging the gap in wages. Contract talks with between Fiat Chrysler, GM, Ford and the UAW start this summer. The union represents about 137,000 workers at the three companies. The current contract expires in September.