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DETROIT, Jun 18, 2003 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- The United Auto Workers union has vowed to resist moves by Detroit automakers to increase health care co-payments and deductibles.
UAW President Ron Gettelfinger -- pledging to resist attempts to initiate monthly health care premiums and raise co-payments for prescription drugs and other services -- set the stage for a contentious showdown over health care, The Detroit News reported.
The UAW will begin negotiating new contracts covering wages and benefits for 327,000 workers at General Motors Corp., Chrysler, and Delphi Corp. next month.
The union's current four-year contract expires Sept. 14.
Last year, health care spending at Detroit automakers climbed 12 percent to $9.2 billion -- an amount that now tops what they spend on steel.
"We're not going to pick up premiums. We're not going to pick up co-pays. We're not going to pick up deductibles," Gettelfinger said.
Copyright 2003 by United Press International.
