UAW Singles Out GM, Rallies For Possible Strike

Source: Reuters

DETROIT (Reuters) - Local leaders with the United Auto Workers union on Thursday began preparing to walk picket lines as soon as Friday if contract talks with General Motors Corp. (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) break down after the UAW singled out the No. 1 U.S. automaker as its strike target.

Rival automakers Ford Motor Co. (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and privately held Chrysler LLC said they had signed contract extensions with the UAW, clearing the way for their union-represented workers to continue working under the terms of their existing contracts even after the industry-wide deal on wages and benefits expires on Friday.

By readying union workers for a possible strike, the UAW underscored the stakes in the negotiations at a time when Wall Street optimism has been building that the automakers would emerge with a deal to slash health-care spending.

The UAW's lead negotiator with GM, Cal Rapson, said in a e-mailed statement to union members that the UAW had picked GM as its "strike target."

Rapson said GM now faces a deadline of 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday when its current contract with the union expires.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSN1340184620070913