Sept. 18 the union reached tentative pacts with General Motors Corp. and Delphi Corp., after concluding negotiations with DaimlerChrysler Sept. 14 and Ford Motor

Co. Sept. 15.

“Since the start of these negotiations, one of our goals was to bring this industry together,” Gettelfinger said, referring to the union’s desire to have a pattern agreement with all three automakers. “We’re proud of the agreements and we are satisfied that the agreements address the needs of our membership, active and retired.” The key issues in the talks were pensions and health care costs.

Contract talks—the largest collective bargaining negotiations of the year—began July 16. Details of the tentative agreements have not been released, pending ratification votes by the union’s members over the next two to three weeks.

More