Link:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050926/canad...alks.html?.v=2
CAW Union Leader More Upbeat About Talks
Monday September 26, 12:53 pm ET
By Beth Duff-Brown, Associated Press Writer
TORONTO (AP) -- The president of the Canadian Auto Workers union said Monday that labor talks with General Motors Corp. had progressed over the weekend and he was optimistic that a looming strike by some 22,000 workers could be averted.
But CAW president Buzz Hargrove, who set a strike deadline for midnight Tuesday, cautioned there were still key contentions that could derail the talks, mainly a desire by GM to cut two minutes from the relief breaks that workers get on assembly lines and the possible outsourcing of construction work in Ontario plants.
General Motors did not immediately return calls Monday.
"We're close enough to do this, but far enough away to fall in the ditch," Hargrove told a news conference. "We're feeling somewhat better this morning, although we're not there."
He said that GM -- which led the Big Three automakers with revenues last year, but is saddled with huge health care and pension liabilities -- had agreed in principle with the union's requests.
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