Detroit, Sept 19: General Motors reached a tentative contract deal with the United Auto Workers Union, the last of the big three US automakers to seal a Labour Agreement this week. Sources familiar with the talks said the deal with GM, like those with Ford and Chrysler, could provide more flexibility in shutting down unprofitable facilities as US automakers fend off foreign rivals, particularly the Japanese. GM said the deal, covering approximately 115,000 employees, was reached Thursday, after two months of negotiations. The automaker declined to reveal details but said the UAW will explain the accord to its members as part of the union's ratification process.


Ford and Chrysler announced contract deals earlier this week after the expiration Sunday of four-year contracts with the automakers.


"These were difficult, complex sets of negotiations that were handled in probably the most professional manner that I have experienced," said Richard Shoemaker, UAW executive in the Union's GM division.


A separate deal was also reached with Delphi Corp., the parts maker spun off by GM in 1999. Bureau Report