AUTOS

GM Surprises UAW With Contract Offer: General Motors Corp. made a surprising “comprehensive contract proposal” to the United Auto Workers union in an effort to reach a new labor agreement before the current one expires Saturday. The move breaks with traditional bargaining patterns because the union is already in intensive negotiations with Ford Motor Co. for an industry-pattern contract. Typically, the labor agreement with the lead bargaining company sets the pattern for its competitors. Analysts expressed concern that Ford would agree to contract terms that GM couldn’t meet. No details of the proposal were immediately available.