General Motors, Uaw Extend Negotiations

General Motors Corp. got a reprieve from a potentially crippling strike at a major parts plant Thursday night, but strike deadlines were still in place for midnight Friday at two other parts producers that could quickly force closures of GM vehicle assembly lines.

Spokesmen for both GM and the United Auto Workers said talks continued Friday between GM and union locals at the three parts producers, plus at a pickup truck assembly plant at Pontiac, Mich., where a strike has been under way for seven weeks.

Thursday night’s midnight strike deadline, for workers at a catalytic converter producer in Oak Creek, Wis., outside Milwaukee, expired with both sides agreeing to keep talking.

GM said it understood the deadline had been extended for 24 hours, but UAW spokesman Reg McGhee said he was not told of a new deadline for Oak Creek, only that talks were continuing as long as there was progress.