GM Faces Strike Threat At Three Michigan Plants

GM Faces Strike Threat At Three Michigan Plants
Dow Jones
April 10, 2008: 07:09 PM EST

DETROIT -(Dow Jones)- United Auto Workers union locals at three General Motors Corp. (GM) plants in Michigan are threatening to strike as they and the auto maker try to resolve plant-specific issues.

The UAW issued five-day strike notices at plants in Flint, Delta Township and Warren. The notices mean the union could strike in five days if it's not satisfied with the progress of talks.

The Delta Township plant produces GM's fast-selling line of large crossover utility vehicles, the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook.

GM spokesman Dan Flores confirmed Thursday that the UAW notified the auto maker of the five-day notices.

"We're going to focus our efforts on continuing to bargain toward reaching new tentative agreements as soon as we can," Flores said.

Earlier this week, GM reached a tentative agreement with a UAW local at a plant in Parma, Ohio.

GM reached a new national labor contract with the UAW last year that covers wages and benefits. But the auto maker still is hammering out local deals that cover plant-specific issues such as work rules and seniority.

The Warren plant produces transmissions and the Flint plant produces pickup trucks and medium-duty commercial trucks, though pickup truck production is idled due to the strike at supplier American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (AXL).

If the UAW locals strike, it could take down even more production at GM, which already is dealing with the effects of the American Axle strike.

The auto maker has idled all or portions of 30 factories due to the American Axle strike.