Chrysler, UAW contract extended until Oct. 19

9/22/2011

DETROIT -- Chrysler Group LLC and the United Auto Workers union are extending their labor contract for a second time as they hash out a new one.

The contract covers 23,000 U.S. factory workers and will be extended until Oct. 19. No reason was given for the extension. The four-year contract was supposed to expire last week, but was extended until 11:59 p.m. yesterday.

In the past, workers could strike if contract deadlines weren’t met. But under the terms of Chrysler’s government bailout two years ago, workers have limited ability to strike.