The traditional handshake that opens contract talks between the United Auto Workers and the big car companies has often seemed a bit forced. But when U.A.W. President Owen Bieber faced off across the bargaining table last week with Alfred Warren, the chief negotiator for General Motors, they had a powerful incentive to stay on friendly terms. Both sides know all too well that the share of the American car market captured by foreign competitors has risen from 23.5% to 28.3% since 1984. The Toyotas and Hyundais of the world would like nothing better than a U.S. auto strike when the U.A.W.'s...
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