United Auto Workers, General Motors, confident both sides can be happy as contract talks begin

It was all smiles and optimism Monday as the United Auto Workers union opened contract talks in an official handshake ceremony with General Motors.

But the glad-handing may not last long. GM and Ford want to cut labor costs that are $8 to $9 per hour higher than U.S. plants owned by Honda and Toyota. Fiat Chrysler wants to keep its costs stable. The union also wants pay raises for longtime workers and an end to lower pay for entry-level workers.

Despite the differences, union officials and GM executives said they were confident at a Monday ceremony that they could negotiate a deal that will make both sides happy.

The union's contracts with GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler expire Sept. 14.