GM CHAIRMAN SMITH GIVES COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS, 1998-06-19 (photo)

General Motors Chairman Jack Smith addresses the graduates at Kettering University in Flint June 19. In the commencement address, Smith said the No.1 U.S. automaker was committed to settling strikes at two key parts plants as quickly as possible. As of Thursday, GM had idled 88,000 hourly workers at 21 facilities in North America because of parts shortage created by the strikes at the Flint Metal Center and Delphi East parts plants. The number of idled workers does not include 9,200 members of the United Auto Workers union who are on strike. jch/Photo by John C. JCH/CM/FMS