From the Detroit Free Press
TROY, MI — UAW leaders Thursday didn’t rule out the possibility of a strike against Delphi Corp., the automotive parts supplier that said it will seek major concessions from the union in bankruptcy court.
Based on what Delphi has said in the media, “it does seem reasonable there’s plenty of room for conflict,” UAW Vice President Dick Shoemaker said.
A strike against Delphi would quickly hurt its largest customer, General Motors Corp., and could shut down many of its plants across North America.
Delphi CEO Steve Miller said the company will use bankruptcy court to sell or close a major portion of its U.S. plants and cut its labor costs. Before Delphi declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection of its U.S. assets on Oct. 8, the company had proposed wage cuts of as much as 63 percent and lower benefits, according to UAW locals.
UAW Local 686 in Lockport, NY, which represents workers at one of Delphi’s largest U.S. plants, said in a leaflet to members this month that they should prepare for a possible strike if a bankruptcy judge throws out their contract.
“It would be presumptuous for us to say there would be a strike, and it would be just as presumptuous to say there would not be,” UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said.
Shoemaker and Gettelfinger made the comments after briefing reporters on the health care agreement reached earlier this week with GM.
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