UAW says GM talks to intensify as jobs issue looms

[Coventina]

Source: Reuters

DETROIT (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers union expects a crucial round of restructuring talks with General Motors Corp "to intensify this coming week" ahead of an end-of-May deadline set by the Obama administration.

In an e-mail message sent to rank-and-file workers, the union also repeated its opposition to GM's plans to close 16 U.S. manufacturing plants and cut about 21,000 jobs while also planning to increase vehicle imports from GM plants in lower-wage economies such as Mexico, South Korea and China.

"The UAW is actively involved in these complex negotiations, which involve the Obama auto task force, GM management, bondholders and secured lenders, dealers, parts suppliers and other stakeholders," the union said in the message. "These negotiations will have a major impact on wages, benefits and jobs for active and retired UAW members.

"We are expecting the restructuring negotiations to intensify this coming week,"

The unusual email message to UAW-represented workers comes as UAW President Ron Gettelfinger and GM Chief Executive Fritz Henderson are both due in Washington on Monday for talks with U.S. officials.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE54E0P120090518

---

It really irks me that after receiving taxpayer money, GM wants to IMPORT cars from overseas.

:mad:

[tomreedtoon]

1. Union's kind of late in this, aren't they?

You said, "It really irks me that after receiving taxpayer money, GM wants to IMPORT cars from overseas."

Well, when the Feds - and that includes Obama - only want to deal with the corporate heads, instead of the lowly workers or people with mortgages, what do you expect? And the UAW knew this was coming, but didn't bother speaking up until now, when it's too late.