United Auto Workers, General Motors, Delphi Reach Tentative Contract Agreements

DETROIT September 18, 2003; John Porretto writing for the AP rweported that the United Auto Workers said Thursday it reached tentative contract agreements with General Motors Corp. and automotive supplier Delphi Corp., more than three days after labor pacts between the union and the two companies expired. The UAW earlier this week reached tentative agreements with Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group and supplier Visteon Corp.

"In the last five days we have successfully concluded negotiations with five of the largest manufacturers in the world," UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said. "That's five for five." GM, the world's largest automaker, has 115,000 active UAW workers and another 340,000 retirees and spouses. Delphi has 30,000 UAW workers. The two sides had negotiated "late into the night" Wednesday, GM spokesman Tom Wickham said. "We are very pleased with the tentative agreement. I do think it sets this highly competitive industry in perspectivce," said Delphi chief executive J.T. Battenberg. The deal "should help all of us succeed in the future." Delphi was spun off from GM in 1999, and the automaker remains its biggest customer. The union has said it would like for GM to continue buying parts from Delphi as opposed to nonunion suppliers. At the same time, GM is under intense pressure to lower operating costs and conduct business as efficiently as possible. Employees for both sides have reported for work as usual throughout negotiations