Motoryzacja

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said Wednesday he expects that discussions about union concessions with General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC will result in a plan by the Feb. 17 deadline set by the Bush administration.

The UAW has set a Wednesday strike deadline in talks with Chrysler on a new four-year contract, people close to the negotiations told the New York Times late Sunday night. The two sides talked throughout the weekend after the union pushed to intensify discussions late last week, choosing Chrysler to go second in national contract talks after GM.

General Motors Corp., Chrysler LLC and the Canadian Auto Workers were continuing to negotiate past a union deadline for an early contract settlement, CAW President Buzz Hargrove said late Wednesday.

The Canadian Auto Workers and Chrysler LLC returned to bargaining a new contract Friday, but Chrysler continues to seek more concessions than what the union gave General Motors Corp.

The UAW is working with Chrysler LLC to sweeten buyout packages being offered to union members to leave the company, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said Thursday. The union already won enhanced buyout packages at General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. "It seems to me like we may be in a position at Chrysler to up the ante," he said.