P.M. BRIEFING : Chrysler Workers Authorize Strike

Union workers at Chrysler’s St. Louis Plant No. 1 voted overwhelmingly today to go on strike if a contract agreement over working conditions is not reached by a Sept. 14 deadline.

Ed Boyer, president of United Auto Workers Local 136, said that union membership among the 4,400 plant employees voted by an 82% margin in favor of striking.

“I expected this,” Boyer said. “We go back into negotiations this morning and notify the management that we passed this strike vote. Our plans are to meet all this weekend.”