Gm Facing Strike Deadline At Two Crucial Parts Plants

General Motors Corp., struggling to meet demand for some of its hot-selling cars and trucks, is facing the threat of strikes that could stop the flow of parts from components plants in Ohio and Michigan.

Parts plant strikes last year forced the company to shut several assembly plants and lose production of thousands of vehicles.

Negotiators for GM and United Rubber Workers Local 87 bargained Tuesday for a contract to replace one that expired Jan. 1 covering about 900 workers at GM’s Inland Fisher Guide plant in Vandalia, Ohio. The union has authorized a strike if there is no agreement by 11:59 p.m. today.

Meanwhile, the United Auto Workers union notified GM Tuesday that about 6,800 workers at the company’s AC Delco Flint East complex in Flint, Mich., would strike Jan. 18 if a dispute over staff levels and outside contracting isn’t resolved.

The Ohio plant makes instrument panels, steering wheels, air bags and other interior components for cars and trucks. Workers at the Flint complex make spark plugs, fuel pumps, cruise controls, instrument clusters and a variety of filters and fuel system parts.

Strikes last year at GM plants in Flint and Anderson, Ind., forced the company to shut down assembly plants as the flow of components was cut off.