P.M. BRIEFING : UAW Rejects Chrysler Profit Plan

The United Auto Workers has rejected proposals that would give workers a stake in the financially struggling Chrysler Corp. and establish a new way to figure profit sharing, a UAW official said today.

“It’s pretty close to being laid to rest from the union’s position,” UAW Vice President Stan Marshall said. “We’re rejecting unless the membership says differently.”

Marshall said he expects union members to agree with the bargainers’ position.

However, UAW negotiators are likely to hear more about the two proposals later.

“I’m sure all those discussions will come up again at the bargaining table,” Chrysler spokesman Tom Houston said.

Contracts between the UAW and the nation’s Big Three auto makers covering more than 450,000 workers, including about 60,000 at Chrysler, expire Sept. 14.