U.A.W. and Auto Makers Near Midnight Deadline in Contract Talks

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Source: The New York Times

DETROIT — Negotiators from the United Automobile Workers were meeting late Wednesday with officials from General Motors and Chrysler in an effort to reach a new labor deal before the old one expired at midnight.

Workers were anxiously awaiting word of a settlement, and even U.A.W. officials at several plants said they were being kept in the dark about the pace and nature of the discussions.

“We are confident that we can reach an agreement that will meet many of the goals we set at the beginning of negotiations,” Joe Ashton, a U.A.W. vice president in charge of negotiations with G.M., wrote in a message to workers posted online Wednesday.

After a deal is reached, it still must be approved by U.A.W. local leaders and then ratified by the rank-and-file membership.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/15/business/uaw-and-auto-makers-near-midnight-deadline-in-contract-talks.html