UAW Approves Pact Adding Jobs at Saturn

United Auto Workers members overwhelmingly ratified an agreement that calls for General Motors Corp. to add as many as 1,000 jobs at its Saturn Corp. assembly plant in Tennessee, an increase of up to 14% from the current level, a union official said. The world’s largest auto maker also agreed to build a new sport-utility vehicle at the Spring Hill, Tenn., factory beginning in 2001. The 6,900 UAW workers in Spring Hill voted to strike in July, saying GM was undermining Saturn’s unique contract that emphasizes labor-management cooperation. Personal intervention by Richard Wagoner, head of GM’s North American automotive operations, and UAW Vice President Richard Shoemaker led to the settlement. GM’s shares rose $2.44 to close at $58.75 on the NYSE.