Delphi UAW Members Vote to Authorize Strike

The United Auto Workers union, as expected, said its U.S. hourly workers overwhelmingly authorized leaders to call a strike should auto parts maker Delphi Corp. toss out its labor contracts as it reorganizes through Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The union, which represents about 24,000 Delphi blue-collar workers at 21 U.S. facilities, said the approval came with more than 95% of votes cast. Delphi has more than 33,000 U.S. hourly workers overall.

A strike could quickly halt North American production at the Troy, Mich.-based parts maker and former parent General Motors Corp., though such a move would probably be weeks away as the parties continue to negotiate a settlement.

The vote “doesn’t change the dynamics of the negotiations very much,” Morningstar analyst John Novak said.