News In Brief

GM strikes reach 16 plants but outline of pact appears

Selective United Automobile Workers strikes broadened to 16 General Motors plants on Wednesday as the union and GM concentrated on a new ''all encompassing'' wage and job security proposal by the UAW that it said ''hopefully could conclude these negotiations'' this week.

At midweek, the basic outline of a new contract appeared to be settled, before additional strikes over local issues - largely over plant work conditions - brought the number on strike to 92,000.