GM and UAW Local 696 Arrive at Tentative Agreement

03/22/96

Day seventeen of UAW Local 696's strike against General Motors brought a tentative agreement between the Union and the Automaker, and paved the way for the striking workers to return to their jobs at 2 Delphi Chassis plants in Dayton, Ohio where brakes and brake components are made for almost all GM's vehicles.

By the time the agreement had been reached GM had shutdown nearly all of it's North American plants and laid off 175,800 workers (as compared to the 3,000 workers who were actually out on strike). In fact, the only assembly plants that GM has kept open were 2 truck assembly plants in Mexico.

Talks to end the strike had proceeded around the clock with only an eleven hour break since they began late last week. The federal government said that federal mediators would be ready to help with negotiations should they break down, but they never did.

The 3,000 striking workers will have a chance to vote on the tentative agreement tomorrow morning. If they accept it, work could resume at the plants as early as Friday's second shift. No details about the agreement will be released until workers have a chance to inspect it.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel