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From: xcruz@webtv.net (Robert Chavez)
Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 21:58:13 -0600 (MDT)
To: Labor-Rap@csf.colorado.edu
Subject: Saturn Workers Authorize Strike
   Saturn workers authorize strike
ASSOCIATED PRESS                               
SPRING HILL, Tenn., July 19 —Saturn Corp. workers voted overwhelmingly
to give union leaders the authority to call their first-ever strike
against the automaker that calls itself "a different kind of car
company." The United Auto Workers local could call a strike as early as
Friday against the General Motors division whose advertising depicts
employees cheerfully working together in teams for an uncommonly humane
corporation. 
       SATURN IS GM's only U.S. plant still turning out cars.
Strikes at two GM parts plants in Flint, Mich., have idled about 186,000
workers at 25 assembly plants across the United States, Canada and
Mexico.
       The vote comes four months after dissident employees
forced a referendum on their unique contract with GM. Workers voted
overwhelmingly to keep the "risk-and-reward" contract rather than
abandon it for the contract all other UAW workers have.
       Under the "risk-and-reward" pay program, Saturn employees
average about 12 percent less in salary than GM's other workers but can
add to their base pay by hitting certain goals.
       In earlier years, annual bonuses reached $10,000 and
Saturn workers made about $4,000 more than their GM counterparts. Last
year, because fewer cars were made as a result of shrinking demand, it
was about $4,000 less.
       Now, union officials say Saturn is shortchanging workers
for their second-quarter efforts this year. Officials say workers are
owed a $1,400 bonus, but the company plans to pay only $390.
       
GM STRIKE TALKS TO RESUME TUESDAY
       Negotiators trying to settle the two strikes that have
crippled GM's North American production planned to take most of Monday
off as the United Auto Workers holds a summit. Talks at the Flint Metal
Center stamping plant were held briefly Sunday morning and then recessed
until Tuesday, GM spokeswoman Mary Irby said.
       Negotiations were held for several hours at the Delphi
Flint East parts plant and were scheduled to resume at least briefly
Monday morning.
       The UAW was calling in about 300 local union leaders from
across the nation to Flint for a briefing on the strike Monday. The
meeting was to be followed by afternoon rallies in front of both plants.
       UAW President Stephen Yokich, who has maintained a
relatively low public profile during the strikes, was expected to
address the summit and the rallies. Both events are intended as a show
of the union's solidarity.
       On Wednesday, an arbitrator is scheduled to hear
arguments from the UAW and GM on the automaker's motion to have the
strikes ruled illegal. The closed-door hearing will be conducted in
Detroit.
       The strikes in Flint by 9,200 workers have idled 25
assembly plants and affected more than 100 parts plants across North
America. Other GM workers idled by the strike total about 186,000.
       GM's losses so far have exceeded $1.2 billion.