Back to Work
GM, union see settlement differently

  Local General Motors Corp. brake plant workers voted overwhelmingly Fridayto end their 17-day strike against the world's top automaker.
  United Auto Workers president Joe Hasenjager said 99 percent of the 1,739workers who voted on the agreement approved it. They met Friday morning atUniversity of Dayton Arena.
  The strike started March 5 when 3,000 Local 696 members walked out of theDelphi Chassis Systems brake plants on Wisconsin Boulevard and Needmore Road.Three hundred workers soon returned to work to fulfill contracts to make brakecomponents for other automakers.
  Eventually, the strike closed 26 of 29 GM vehicle assembly plants and 90 of140 Delphi parts plants and idled nearly 180,000 GM workers throughout theUnited States, Canada and Mexico. Dozens of independent suppliers werecrippled as well.

AGREEMENT TERMS Details of the settlement agreement between the United Auto Workers and General Motors Corp. The agreement was ratified by UAW Local 696 members Friday. OUTSOURCING. GM General Motors Corp. won the right to continue buying some parts from outside companies, but union officials claim the company must replace any lost jobs with new business. GM said it will try to do so, but said there are no guarantees.    For now, GM and the UAW agreed to let GM go ahead with plans to buy some of its parts from outside plants, including the purchase of brake systems for the 1998 Camaro and Firebird from a German manufacturer. But GM said the plants have already won more than enough new business to offset the loss. HIRING. GM agreed to hire 417 employees to reduce overtime and subcontracting. But GM said the net gain will be smaller, because of retirements and other departures. PAYMENT. GM agreed to pay the union $5.6 million to settle grievances, primarily over subcontracting. SAFETY. Union officials said GM will spend $6.5 million to improve health and safety as well as technology at the plants. GM said that's not in the agreement. INVESTMENT. GM agreed to continue working on the next generation of anti-lock brakes to ensure future jobs at the plant. ASSURANCES. Also, top UAW and GM officials signed a letter of commitment to abide by the spirit of the negotiations and form a joint committee to pursue future business. The union estimates the plants could win up to 269 new jobs.