Neither the union nor the automakers will officially confirm nor deny that an abortion benefit is one of the issues under discussion, nor is it listed on the UAW Web site as one of its goals for this round of negotiations. Although abortion is legal in the United States since the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, it has been one of the most divisive issues in American society. Nor is it known how many people called Gettelfinger's office to complain or support the union's abortion stand, but there were at least eight people assigned to log calls.
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| Thurman Opper, member of UAW Local 160, holds two signs denouncing abortion as he participates in a pro-life demonstration outside UAW headquarters in Detroit. It was purported that the union was asking for paid elective abortions as a health care benefit in its negotiations with General Motors, Ford and the Chrysler Group. (Photo: Joe Cabadas, Canadian Auto Press) |
Apparently a "constituency" inside the union has decided to bring it up during the contract talks.
According to a UAW spokesman who declined to be named, "There are a lot of matters that appear in the press about cutting jobs and plants and we don't have any comment on those. The fact that this is a particular issue that many people in America feel passionate about doesn't impact our viewpoint that negotiating is best done at the negotiating table."
When the final contract comes out, it is unknown if there will be a briefing on this issue or other social issues that the union has gotten GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler to agree to before union members take a vote. And, there is a precedent from the contract outcome four years ago that some items, such as same sex domestic partnership benefits, can be slipped in unannounced until after the contract has been ratified.
"I don't get into the social issues of the contract much, but I think that the Big Three reluctant to be involved in (the elective abortion) discussion," CSM analyst Jackson said. "This issue would have an impact, though, because the automakers are some of the largest employers in the country and the world and UAW members receive some of the most comprehensive benefits."