By DEE-ANN DURBIN and TOM KRISHER STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich.

DETROIT _ Locals representing 20 percent of the UAW's Chrysler members are expected to vote Wednesday on the landmark national labor agreement with the automaker _ votes that could tilt the direction of a referendum that has received split support.

By Tim Higgins, Detroit Free Press Oct. 23--The man at the center of the storm over whether UAW rank-and-file members should approve the national labor agreement with Chrysler LLC says he never intended to oppose the deal, but people who know him say they're not surprised.

DETROIT _ The man at the center of the storm over whether UAW rank-and-file members should approve the national labor agreement with Chrysler LLC says he never intended to oppose the deal, but people who know him say they're not surprised.

By Tim Higgins, Detroit Free Press Oct. 22--If UAW members turn down the national labor deal with Chrysler LLC, Bill Parker, the union's bargaining committee chairman, says he expects UAW President Ron Gettelfinger will go back to the automaker for something better.