Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - Contract talks aimed at ending a 22-day strike by the United Auto Workers against General Motors continued Monday after United Auto Workers union bargainers rejected a company offer on Sunday.
In a letter to members, UAW Vice President Terry Dittes cast doubt on whether there will be a quick settlement in the contract dispute, which sent 49,000 workers to the picket lines on Sept. 16, crippling GM's factories.
Dittes' letter said the union presented a proposal to the company Saturday. He said GM responded Sunday morning by reverting back to an offer that had been rejected and made few changes.
Locally, morale remains strong on the UAW line, according to the regional leader of striking auto workers.
Baker says GM needs to build jobs here, not cut pay or move jobs elsewhere.
Art Wheaton of the Worker Institute at Cornell says he's not surprised by the high morale. "Part of it because community support for the UAW is strong, particularly the workers on strike because everybody has a family member or friend who is dealing with the issue the UAW is fighting for," says Wheaton.
Industry analysts say GM is losing more than $80 million a day as the strike continues. Workers earn $250 per week in strike pay while they're on the picket lines, about one-fifth of what they normally make.