GM agrees to hike wages 8.5% at major Mexico plant, union says

　　div classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodivpBy Daina Beth Solomonp

　　pMEXICO CITY Reuters – U.S. automaker General Motors has agreed to raise wages 8.5 in a new collective contract for its production hub in the central Mexican city of Silao, the plants new union SINTTIA said on Thursday.pdivdivdiv classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodiv

　　pSINTTIA became the first independent union at the plant in one of the first union elections under a new trade deal, the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement USMCA, which seeks to reduce the vast wage gap between U.S. and Mexican workers. p

　　pSINTTIA said the deal also comprises improved benefits, including additional bonuses, vacation time and grocery vouchers.p

　　pGM declined to comment on the details of the agreement ahead of a workers vote to approve the deal, expected to take place later this month.p

　　pSINTTIA had pushed for raises above inflation, which accelerated to 7.68 in April in Mexico. The group had initially had proposed an increase of 19.2, which GM countered with an offer of 3.5. Reporting by Daina Beth Solomonp

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