Well, it’s less than half an hour to go to see if there is a strike at GM. If you’re asking if I know whether it will happen, got me. I think a deal will happen but it could easily come quickly or come after a fairly tough strike. It’s that up-in-the-air. People were up throughout the night last night at Solidarity House. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to give up-t0-the-minute reports because I’m out here in Kentucky about to speak to the state federation meeting here and, then, off to Chicago for the Change To Win convention.

    The mainstream media has this to report. First, The New York Times:

G.M.’s 73,000 workers began returning to factories around the United States this morning as scheduled. But the union, in an e-mail message sent to local leaders Sunday night, told workers to walk out if there was no settlement by the deadline.

"Unless you hear otherwise from your International Union and Local union leadership you should consider yourself on strike," the message said.

It went on to say: "Your patience has carried us to this point and we appreciate all the support we have received from our membership. We told you earlier that we did not take your patience for granted and we will not abuse your trust."

Some analysts, however, saw the strike deadline as an effort by the U.A.W. to bring the talks to a conclusion, since workers are getting anxious about the fate of their contract.

    And from The Wall Street Journal:

The United Auto Workers set a deadline of 11 a.m. EDT today to conclude a new national contract with General Motors Corp., following weekend negotiations that appeared to be on track to produce a groundbreaking labor deal.

The talks still could encounter obstacles, even though people familiar with the situation indicated that a framework for dealing with the main issue of retiree health care was in place, and that bargaining yesterday had shifted to other issues. One key issue is the size of a cash bonus GM will give 73,000 active workers in exchange for ratifying a deal, these people said.

Late yesterday, UAW International leaders in Detroit began calling local leaders at GM plants across the country, telling them to prepare to go on strike today at 11 a.m. if no deal was reached. The UAW typically sets strike deadlines as a way of putting pressure on company negotiators to wrap up last details. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger has a history of making 11th-hour proposals to sweeten contract deals.

    Hang on…