CAW Delays Briefing as GM, Ford, Chrysler Talks Continue

The Canadian Auto Workers said it may have developments to report after delaying a press conference on labor negotiations with General Motors Co. (GM), Ford Motor Co. (F) and Chrysler Group LLC, one day before current contracts expire.

The CAW, representing about about 18,000 employees in the negotiations, said in a statement today that a Toronto briefing earlier scheduled for noon local time will be held at 4 p.m. The union’s current contract expires at 11:59 p.m. tomorrow and the sides have held more than a month of discussions aimed at securing a new deal.

“There could be more news,” by the 4 p.m. briefing, Shannon Devine, a CAW spokeswoman, said by mobile phone today. “Right now we are meeting with all three companies and we are not making very good progress. There could be some other developments by that time.”

The union has begun preparations for a possible strike at any company without a deal by tomorrow’s deadline, the CAW said in today’s statement. A strike would threaten production at eight auto and engine plants in Ontario, where output has fallen as a rising Canadian dollar has made manufacturing more expensive in the country.

To contact the reporter on this story: Liezel Hill in Toronto at lhill30@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Simon Casey at scasey4@bloomberg.net