UAW chief says Axle talks remain 'very difficult'

CANTON, Mich., April 2 (Reuters) - United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger on Wednesday said little progress had been made in talks aimed at settling a five-week-old strike at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings (AXL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and blasted the auto supplier's CEO for "excessive" compensation.

Gettelfinger, speaking to Reuters after an address to a business group, said the union made what it considered "a very responsible proposal" in earlier contract talks that could have avoided the strike that has idled five American Axle plants and 30 more at its largest customer, General Motors Corp (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research).

"Now that we're on strike it's going to take a lot to settle it," Gettelfinger said.

When asked if the tone of negotiations had improved, Gettelfinger said, "I don't think things have changed that much even today."