Joys of the Season

When United Auto Workers Boss Walter Reuther emerged from a conference with his top aides one day last week, Detroit expected to hear the ritualistic announcement of a strike dead line at General Motors Corp. Instead, Reuther slyly proclaimed what he called a "target date" of Dec. 14. Only if there is no settlement by that time, explained Walter, would an actual dead line be set -- for some time after the first of next year. Reason for the move: by avoiding an early strike, the union's 372,000 G.M. workers will be assured of their two paid holidays during the Christmas season.

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