GM, United Auto Workers appear to be going nowhere fast in talks

By: Kevin D.

General Motors brass abruptly pulled the brakes on a meeting with its workers’ union Tuesday, following a tumultuous weekend during which talks over creating more manufacturing jobs in the US broke down, The Post has learned.

Negotiators for United Auto Workers and GM had made a “verbal agreement” Monday to meet 9 a.m. Tuesday at GM’s Renaissance Center in Detroit, where they were to continue talks over jobs and pay, according to a person connected to the union with direct knowledge of the discussions.

But GM officials pulled the plug shortly before the meeting was to start, this person said.

Spokesmen for UAW and GM declined to comment. A source close to GM said “side meetings” were being held Tuesday and the discussions were ongoing.

Tuesday marked the first time that a meeting has been canceled since 46,000 UAW members started picketing 23 days ago, suggesting the talks are going nowhere fast. Meanwhile, the strike is costing GM an estimated $450 million a week and squeezing workers who are receiving $250 a week in strike pay — far less than they would typically make.

“General Motors’ new strategy is to literally starve UAW-GM members off the picket line as a way to leverage unfair concessions,” said the union source.

The main issue is “Mexico, Mexico, Mexico,” the source added, referring to the union’s demands for the Big 3 company to bring to the US entire lines of auto manufacturing from south of the border.

Negotiators had expected to discuss bringing auto production lines to places like Lordstown, Ohio, but GM prefers to manufacture its cars in Mexico, where it’s cheaper, the source added.

Talks between GM and UAW took a turn for the worse Sunday, when the company rejected a UAW proposal demanding more for hourly and salaried workers.

In a letter dated Oct. 6, Terry Dittes, a UAW director, accused GM negotiators of lacking “the professional courtesy to explain” why they rejected the package, according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Post.

GM submitted a new proposal Monday and is waiting to hear from UAW, according to a source close to GM.

The strike, which has no end in sight, is estimated to have hit 150,000 workers in the auto industry, including 75,000 workers at auto parts suppliers, according to a study by the Anderson Economic Group.

Last week, The Post reported that UAW brass were considering a “no-confidence” vote against GM Chief Executive Mary Barra — who’s not directly involved in the negotiations — in order to bring her to the bargaining table.

The union is considering targeting Barra since it believes she was personally involved in a decision to yank health care coverage last month.

No decision has been made to have the vote, but union officials are considering it to bring Barra directly to the negotiating table, one source said.