Delphi union sets strike date

A union representing workers at Delphi Corp. plants in the Mahoning Valley said it has taken the first step toward a national strike Oct. 13.

The International Union of Electrical Workers has notified the auto supplier that it intends to terminate its local and national labor contracts.

“Delphi has not delivered proposals that meet our members’ needs,” said Jim Clark, IUE president.

The bottleneck in negotiations follows a settlement between Delphi and its largest union, the United Auto Workers. A bankruptcy court judge Thursday approved that contract, which cuts hourly wages from $27 to between $14 and $18.50.

Also, The IUE is putting pressure on Delphi by revoking its permission to allow the use of temporary workers. In most cases, the cutoff occurs in two weeks, meaning Delphi must reduce production or hire the workers as permanent employees.

For more on this story, see The Vindicator or www.vindy.com Saturday.