G. E. meets unions at negotiating table

General Electric labor contracts with unions representing more than 100,000 workers expired Sunday, but work will continue at 158 plants while unions consider a G. E. settlement offer this week, reports Monitor correspondent Ed Townsend.

Negotiations began May 4. G. E.'s chief negotiator said last week that some differences must be worked out, but he is confident a settlement can be reached. The International Union of Electrical Workers (IUEW) notes that G. E. profits in 1981 exceeded $2.5 billion and the company won a $600 million tax rebate. An IUEW report said that, under the circumstances, the union will not accept a contract with ''givebacks'' or only token increases, the pattern of concessionary bargaining this year.