Our ongoing coverage of the negotiations between the UAW and GM continues today with news that both parties have returned to the table, and talks have resumed, though the union has announced that if there are any stalls a firm deadline must be set.

Ron Gettelfinger and Cal Rapson, president and vice president of the United Auto Works union, respectively, sent letters to union members yesterday stating that while there has been some progress in the negotiations, there are still several unresolved issues. Rapson and Gettelfingers, as well as other members of the negotiating team, signed the letter.

An AutoNews article from earlier this afternoon cites that undisclosed sources close to the talks say that a few more days of bargaining may be likely.

Negotiations paused around 9:00 PM last night after about 10 hours of discussion, with both sides erring on the side of caution when it came to offering bargains.

Eldon Renaud, president of UAW Local 2164, in Bowling Green, KY, called the issues at stake in these talks "complex," and added "They said it's just the underbrush that's been taken care of, the main issues remain."

On the GM side of the table, CEO Rick Wagoner, an active participation in these negotiations, canceled his scheduled appearance at a Commerce Department summit in Washington, D. C., today.

The results of these contract negotiations will have a huge impact on efforts by GM, and fellow Detroit auto manufacturers Chrysler and Ford, to recover from last year's poor sales numbers, and a combined loss of about $15 billion in 2006.

The UAW agreed to continue to work on an hour-to-hour basis, just as their current contract with GM was due to expire last Friday.

There has been no official comment from either the UAW or GM on the state or content of the private negotiations.