Reuter's is reporting that a union leader suspended after an assembly plant walkout at DaimlerChrysler's Jeep assembly plant in Toledo, Ohio, has been reinstated, the automaker said on Friday. Officials from United Auto Workers Local 12 and the automater, the world's fifth-largest, met Thursday, DaimlerChrysler spokesman Dan Moore said. Union officials could not be reached for comment. Ken Dudley, the northwest Ohio plant's No. 2 union leader, was blamed by the company for leading a one-hour walkout on Feb. 18 that disrupted operations and led to the loss in production of 800 vehicles. He denied involvement in the walkout. Nonetheless, DaimlerChrysler indefinitely suspended him on Feb. 25, evoking angry reaction from union leaders. The plant, which employs 5,100 people, makes Jeep Cherokee and Wrangler sport utility vehicles. On Feb. 18, first-shift workers in the plant's body shop refused to work an hour overtime as called for under the union contract with the automaker. They complained DaimlerChrysler was cutting jobs and asking the remaining workers to do more. We've also been hearing rumors that there is a new limited edition Wrangler in the works. The new edition will include painted fender flares, new bumpers, a V8 with 4 speed automatic transmission. Our sources say that four colors will be available, including army green. The name for the rumored Wrangler is the "Overland".
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