Talks Sporadic In Canada Auto Strike

General Motors Corp.’s Canadian subsidiary and the Canadian Auto Workers union will have sporadic talks over the weekend, but no formal bargaining is expected before Monday.

CAW President Buzz Hargrove and GM Canada lead negotiator Dean Munger will probably talk on the phone a few times over the weekend, but for “a formal, table sitting down and negotiating, Monday will be the earliest,” said GM Canada spokesman Marc Osborne.

Munger and Hargrove met informally Friday, GM Canada spokesman Stew Low said.

About 15,000 GM Canada workers started striking late Wednesday, after labor-contract talks failed before the strike deadline. The two sides are divided over the issue of “outsourcing,” in which auto makers farm out parts work to outside suppliers.