DETROIT, June 10 (UPI) -- The United Auto Workers has approved concession talks with General Motors Corp., staggering under huge losses and massive healthcare costs.
Local UAW officials voted Thursday to support negotiations with GM but explicity rejected reopening talks on the contract, which runs through 2007.
The UAW vote came during a meeting of about 100 local and regional union leaders from GM and Delphi Corp., an autoparts maker also covered under a UAW contract.
"They're saying negotiations are not going to be reopened, but the union side will definitely consider a lot of things," said Linda Blaine-Motter, chairwoman at Local 909, which represents workers at GM's Warren powertrain plant.
Earlier this week GM's chief executive said he would press the union for concessions in the wake of continuing losses that reached $1.1 billion in the first quarter.
Of particular concern to GM is its yearly healthcare bill of almost $6 billion, the highest in the industry.
To help cope with the losses, GM said this week it plans to dismiss 25,000 workers.
