UAW & Delphi

Automotive News....
DETROIT (Reuters) -- The United Autos Workers union said today that bankrupt parts maker Delphi Corp.'s management will be forced to meet with the union to reach a settlement."The battle with Delphi is far from over," UAW president Ron Gettelfinger said in an online question and answer session with union members. "This process will require them to meet with our union."Gettelfinger said there has been very little discussion between the union and Delphi recently."Our union has been available to meet with the corporation at any time, day or night," he said.Delphi filed for bankruptcy in October 2005 and has outlined plans to drop several business lines, close U.S. union plants and cut thousands of hourly and salaried workers in order to reorganize the company.Earlier this month, a bankruptcy judge gave Delphi more time to negotiate a settlement with former parent General Motors and the unions on issues ranging from its U.S. hourly wages to the ultimate ownership of the company.Pete Hastings, credit market analyst at Morgan Keegan said Gettelfinger's comments suggest "a bit of posturing.""It seems that he's saying to his constituency that GM needs to come to us," Hastings said, adding that Delphi bankruptcy proceedings suggests progress is being made in the negotiations.Delphi in March moved for court authority to reject its thousands of parts contracts with GM and its labor contracts with its unions if it could not reach agreements.In recent public comments, GM CEO Rick Wagoner has said the company is making progress in its negotiations with Delphi.But when asked by a union member, Gettelfinger said Wagoner had been referring to bilateral talks between the automaker and Delphi without the participation of the company's main union."The discussions Mr. Wagoner is referencing are just that -- discussions between Delphi and GM," he said.Separately, Gettelfinger said negotiations for its labor contract with GM, which spun off Delphi in 1999, will begin in July. The current contract with GM expires on Sept. 14, 2007.Gettelfinger declined to comment on the UAW's position on a jobs bank in coming contract talks.GM shares were down $1.05, or 3.07 percent, at $33.13 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange. GM's stock has lost 6 percent this week, the worse weekly performance in 8 weeks. But the share are up over 70 percent so far this year.


This posturing seems pathetic, this is another example of the industry changing and he union seemingly still trying to posture it’s way in to a favorable deal
With a company that no longer can afford to be this way.

Joe