This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7010935.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| General Motors workers on strike | General Motors workers on strike |
| (about 19 hours later) | |
| United Auto Workers (UAW) union members at General Motors (GM) have walked out on strike after contract talks failed to reach an agreement. | United Auto Workers (UAW) union members at General Motors (GM) have walked out on strike after contract talks failed to reach an agreement. |
| It is the first time that UAW has held a nationwide strike during contract negotiations since 1976. | It is the first time that UAW has held a nationwide strike during contract negotiations since 1976. |
| Workers began forming pickets outside GM plants in the US as the deadline for a deal passed. | Workers began forming pickets outside GM plants in the US as the deadline for a deal passed. |
| UAW president Ron Gettelfinger said he expects to return to negotiations with GM later on Monday. | UAW president Ron Gettelfinger said he expects to return to negotiations with GM later on Monday. |
| Job security | Job security |
| The carmaker wants staff to give up some of their expensive benefits such as pensions and health insurance. | The carmaker wants staff to give up some of their expensive benefits such as pensions and health insurance. |
| I don't think there's any big, hidden pile of money that management is keeping from the unions Peter Jankovskis, Oakbrook Investments Key facts: Global Car Industry What is behind the strike? | I don't think there's any big, hidden pile of money that management is keeping from the unions Peter Jankovskis, Oakbrook Investments Key facts: Global Car Industry What is behind the strike? |
| The talks apparently became bogged down on Sunday because the union wanted guarantees that new vehicles and models will be built in the US. | The talks apparently became bogged down on Sunday because the union wanted guarantees that new vehicles and models will be built in the US. |
| Mr Gettelfinger confirmed that job security had indeed been one of the major remaining issues. | Mr Gettelfinger confirmed that job security had indeed been one of the major remaining issues. |
| But he denied that the proposed voluntary employee benefit association or Veba had been a stumbling block. | But he denied that the proposed voluntary employee benefit association or Veba had been a stumbling block. |
| The Veba would take responsibility for the healthcare benefits of 460,000 retirees away from GM. | The Veba would take responsibility for the healthcare benefits of 460,000 retirees away from GM. |
| Mr Gettelfinger said UAW had been "more than eager" to discuss it. | Mr Gettelfinger said UAW had been "more than eager" to discuss it. |
| 'Complex issues' | 'Complex issues' |
| In a statement, GM said it was disappointed about the strike. | In a statement, GM said it was disappointed about the strike. |
| "The bargaining involves complex, difficult issues that affect the job security of our US work force and the long-term viability of the company," it said. | "The bargaining involves complex, difficult issues that affect the job security of our US work force and the long-term viability of the company," it said. |
| "We will continue focusing our efforts on reaching an agreement as soon as possible," it added. | "We will continue focusing our efforts on reaching an agreement as soon as possible," it added. |
| GM employs 73,000 UAW members whose contracts expired on Friday, 14 September. | GM employs 73,000 UAW members whose contracts expired on Friday, 14 September. |
| Model contract | Model contract |
| Since then they have been working without a formal contract as talks continued. | Since then they have been working without a formal contract as talks continued. |
| The strike does not affect GM workers outside North America. | The strike does not affect GM workers outside North America. |
| The UAW wants the talks with GM to come up with a contract that can then be followed by Chrysler and Ford. | The UAW wants the talks with GM to come up with a contract that can then be followed by Chrysler and Ford. |
| "I don't think there's any big, hidden pile of money that management is keeping from the unions, so it's a little bit surprising that they would have gone to this extent," said Peter Jankovskis from Oakbrook Investments in Illinois. | "I don't think there's any big, hidden pile of money that management is keeping from the unions, so it's a little bit surprising that they would have gone to this extent," said Peter Jankovskis from Oakbrook Investments in Illinois. |