GM, American Axle Reach Tentative Contract

Several General Motors Corp. plants idled by an 11-week strike at supplier American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings are set to begin operations soon, following a tentative settlement to the work stoppage, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

The strike had stopped most of GM’s production of large pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the paper reported.

American Axle makes axles, drive shafts and stabilizer bars mainly for GM, which said it lost $800 million in the first quarter due to the strike, the Associated Press reported.

The agreement, which still needs to be approved by United Auto Workers rank-and-file members, would close two American Axle plants in Detroit and Tonawanda, N.Y., AP said.

Many UAW members were unhappy with the tentative pact, but were likely to vote for it, believing it could be the best deal available, the Associated Press reported. Some predicted the vote would be close, AP reported.