Updated Sept. 28, 2023, 4:55 p.m. PST
- The United Auto Workers union is preparing to announce a possible expansion of its strike against General Motors, Stellantis and possibly Ford this Friday if there isn’t further progress in negotiations.
- UAW President Shawn Fain is set to update members on the state of the negotiations on Friday, Sept. 29, at 10 a.m.
- The announcement comes the day after Biden became the first sitting president to ever visit a picket line in support of strikers.
- Biden told UAW strikers that “you deserve the significant raise you need."
Updated Sept. 25, 2023, 4:00 p.m. PST
- The UAW has expanded its strike against General Motors and Stellantis, currently targeting 38 parts distribution centers across the country. The strikes at additional facilities on Friday added roughly 5,600 workers to the 12,700 already on strike.
- The move to expand the strike excludes Ford due to more productive talks with the UAW. Despite progress in the negotiations between Ford and the UAW, however, “significant gaps remain,” according to the automaker. On Friday, UAW President Shawn Fain said Ford had improved its contract offer, including boosting profit sharing, but the union still had serious issues to resolve with the company.
- The strikes have already led to over $500 million in losses for the three carmakers and $100 million in lost wages for workers.
- Biden is scheduled to travel to Michigan tomorrow to show support for the workers, visiting a picket line during his trip. Trump is scheduled to speak on Wednesday in Clinton Township, Michigan about the strike.
- Fain said:
"We're focused on moving the companies at the bargaining table. Right now we think we can get there. Stellantis and GM in particular are going to need some serious pushing."
Updated Sept. 18, 2023, 12:02 p.m. PST
- The United Auto Workers have entered the fourth day of their strike with no immediate resolution on the horizon.
- The union resumed talks with GM on Sunday, and are resuming negotiations with Stellantis and Ford today.
- UAW President Shawn Fain said:
“I don't really want to say we're closer. It's a shame that the companies didn't take our advice and get down to business from the beginning of bargaining back in mid-July.”
- When asked whether workers would walk out at more plants this week, Fain said that the union was "prepared to do whatever we have to do."
- Negotiators for the UAW and Ford said they had "reasonably productive discussions" toward a new contract on Saturday.
- Biden, who has signaled support for the strike, ordered acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and advisor Gene Sperling to liaise with the UAW and the automakers during their negotiations.
- Ford said it was indefinitely laying off 600 workers at a Michigan plant because of the impact of the strike at the facility.
Updated Sept. 15, 2023, 9:35 a.m. PST
- The UAW has voted to strike, and began picketing today in front of Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis plants.
- The strike will not initially involve all of the union's 146,000 members. If all workers walked out, the union's $825 million strike fund would run out in roughly 11 weeks.
- Observers worry that the strike could impact vehicle prices, but UAW President Shawn Fain denied this, stating that labor costs amount to only 4-5% of a vehicle's cost.
- Fain said:
“They could double our raises and not raise car prices and still make millions of dollars in profits. We’re not the problem. Corporate greed is the problem.”
- The strikes may impact the presidential election, testing Biden's claim to be the most "union-friendly president" in American history.
- Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, a federation of 60 unions with 12.5 million members, said:
“Workers all over the world are watching this."
Updated Sept. 14, 2023, 3:35 p.m. PST
- Detroit’s Big Three automakers brace for a strike as the deadline for contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers union approaches. The automakers and the Union remain divided on contract talks, with no agreements made thus far.
- The Union may initiate the first simultaneous strike against all three automakers in 80 years. UAW President Shawn Fain said the final decision on which plants to strike won't be announced until 10 p.m. Eastern time.
- UAW organizing director Brian O. Shepherd said a full walkout "is still on the table."
Offers and counteroffers
- The UAW is demanding a 40% increase in pay, and the Big Three have countered with offers roughly half that amount.
- Fain said:
"We do not yet have offers on the table that reflect the sacrifices and contributions our members have made to these companies. To win, we're likely going to have to take action. We are preparing to strike these companies in a way they've never seen before."
- On Wednesday, Ford CEO Jim Farley said the company had made four offers, but the union had not provided a “genuine counteroffer.” He continued:
"It's hard to negotiate a contract when there's no one to negotiate with."
- Farley confirmed that Ford has eliminated wage tiers, restored cost-of-living pay increases, and increased vacation time. The Union denied that tiers were eliminated and has not yet responded to Ford’s fourth offer.
- Stellantis offered an increase of 17.5%, and General Motors has hiked its contract offer to a 20% wage increase. GM CEO Mary Barra said:
"We are working with urgency and have proposed yet another increasingly strong offer with the goal of reaching an agreement tonight.”
What's the story?
- The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has been in the news for their "audacious" demands, and observers expect a strike when their contract with General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis expires on Sept. 14. If the strike goes ahead, it will involve 146,000 UAW members.
- The union is pushing for a 46% pay raise over four years, a 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay, and a restoration of traditional pensions.
- Currently, Ford and General Motors are offering a 10% raise, and Stellantis, which makes cars and trucks under the Jeep, Ram, Dodge, and Chrysler brands, is offering a 14.5% raise.
- UAW president Shawn Fain said that an agreement is a long way off despite meetings throughout the weekend and on Monday between the union and the automakers.
- Observers expect a strike to be "highly likely."
What is the union saying?
- Fain has denied that the strike would hurt the economy or raise the price of cars:
"In the last four years, the price of cars went up 30%. CEO pay went up 40%. No one said a word. No one had any complaints about that but God forbid the workers ask for their fair share. It's not [that] we'll wreck the economy. We'll wreck their economy, the economy that only works for the billionaire class and not the working class."
- He has been vocal about unfair CEO compensation:
"They get out-of-control salaries. They get pensions they don't even need. They get top-rate health care. They work whatever schedule they want. The majority of our members do not get a pension nowadays. It's crazy. We get substandard health care. We don't get to work remotely."
- UAW members have voted overwhelmingly to authorize its leaders to call a strike. They have yet to decide whether to target one automaker or all three.
What are the automakers saying?
- Automakers have dismissed the demands as unrealistic despite posting billions in profits. Over the last decade, the Detroit Three automakers have posted a collective net profit of $164 billion, with each CEO earning millions in annual compensation.
- Stellantis said in a statement:
"There is still more work to do, but we know that Stellantis and the UAW have a shared interest in these discussions: reaching an agreement that secures the future for our employees and their families."
- Automakers have warned that a strike could lead to a recession in Detroit and drive up the cost of vehicles. Autoworkers at GM went on a 40-day strike in 2019, costing the company an estimated $3.6 billion that year.
Do you support a strike?
—Emma Kansiz
(Photo Credit: Flickr/U.S. Department of Agriculture)
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I always support the right of workers to strike, but this strike threatens to cause massive economic damage to our country, so I hope the UAW can find a way to continue the fight without allowing the strike to do too much damage over too long a period. This one could really be problematic.
However, the UAW should strike and should ask for more. The CEOs of the Big Three make hundreds of times more money during a time of record profits for the automakers, and workers should get a slice of the pie. The evolution to electric vehicles and the need to protect good-paying American jobs are important issues that need to be heard out, and the CEOs clearly aren't listening.
When will we stop with the corporate greed and start rewarding the workers first?
At this point I support the threat of a strike, but oppose an actual strike, vastly preferring that the parties continue robust good faith bargaining to achieve a fair result and thus spare the workers and, indeed, the country the potentially crippling economic consequences which a strike will likely bring. C'mon auto union and auto manufacturers, please get back to the table and hammer out a deal before everyone suffers.
Republicans gave corporations a huge tax break trying to con voters into thinking money would would trickle down to workers. Anyone with a brain knew that was a lie. Corporations are price gouging and stiffing their employees. That said getting paid for five days work when you only work four is a little much.
Need a "Maybe" on this one. Both parties need to come to the table with reasonable positions and negotiate,
For instance if auto industry executive compensation increased 7% in 2022 then worker compensation packages should increase the same amount. Or consider offering stock options to workers like executives giving them a stake in the business. Offer the same health insurance packages to executives and workers.
https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/ceo-pay-compensation-increase-7-7-inflation-equilar/
I generally support labor and unions, but they're making an AVERAGE of $32/hour!
"The union is pushing for a 46% pay raise over four years, a 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay, and a restoration of traditional pensions."
Sorry, that's UTTERLY out of step with the rest of the country, the world, reality! This high cost of manufacturing labor is why the U.S. is rapidly losing manufacturing to overseas.
They mix in the issue of CEO pay, and I totally agree CEO pay is out of control and must be addressed, but that's completely different from rank-and-file union pay.
manufacturing has reduced the number of vehicles made and have increased the pricing. in the past unions were needed, now the unions are not needed.!
It's time for those who create the products that create the wealth to be paid fairly for their work.
Need to balance inequalities...
hell yeah
In theory, i do support the strike. I have never been a full union supporter however. I have seen in the past how the tops of the unions have misused funds and caused a pretty "fat" top layer just as CEOs have done with companies.
That said, i feel this strike has to answer to the increase in wages from the automakers CEOs and other high wage earners in the corporation. Seeing a CEO (GM as an example) being fired in 2009 for their part from the taxpayer bailout in 2009 who was making $2.4 million (i think) at the time, to GMs CEO now making $29 million... YES, there needs to be accountability to that end. How many people do you know today that make 12 times the wage today that they made in 2009???
And, i would argue that the trickle down plan i drank the koolaid on in the 80s is no longer something that has been working. That went away in the 90s with the start of huge corporate GREED! Corporate GREED and the Reagan "trickle down economics" of the 80s is a problem these days. The idea of the wealthy being so wonderful that they make the jobs for us peons is out of place! It consumer spending that drives the economy. Higher wages drive that spending. That spending, grows companies. CORPORATE GREED has kept the reverse flow from working.
The Auto Unions and their members gave up a lot in 2008/2009. There was no agreement to keep new plants in the US, or lines in the US. It appears the ones who profited from the bailout and the conract then are the CEOs and other top members of the organizations. And, i believe that Stakeholders are getting to be a bit more important than Stockholders. We talk about the communities that are affected, Stackeholders consider the community, the workers, the stockholders, non-union workers, etc. The temperature of the company as a brand in the community and to it's cusotmers. Pandering to stricktly stockholders goes to a very narrow group of people, who don't necesarrily have a stake in anything but the stock itself.
The biggest thing i DO NOT SUPPORT in the strike is the being paid for a 40 hour week when only 32 hours are worked. I'm still scratching my head on that one.
i believe the increase being asked for in wages is a bit high, but if the top management would ease their wages and stock options, this could be accomplished.
While i was against unions in the 70 and 80s, i have seen the middle class eroded since the 90s. i now see that unions did have a part in that tier.
I wish there was more transparency in the earnings of those in the leadership roles of unions. If we don't see that along with the company CEO accountability, we will see unions in a bad place again 10 years from now.
The auto workers are asking for a 40% pay increase, a 4 day work week and a traditional pension. While I believe they deserve a raise, 40% is rediculous, a four day work week is rediculous, and who in private industry has a true pension plan (not 401k)...almost nobody. They want the moon. They are not bargaining fairly.
Workers getting their fair share of the pie is long overdue. Republicans have done everything they can to weaken unions and strengthen shareholders
Auto workers deserve to have benefits they gave up to keep companies afloat restored. They also deserve a fair wage hike. There should also be an elimination of tiers.
The Auto Workers saved the Big Three Automakers in this country in 2008 by taking cuts in pay and in benefits. They have been thanked by the CEO's of Ford, GM and Chrysler by failing to provide them raises and adequate benefits while the Automakers have made Billions since 2008. This is Capitalism at its worst. This is a shameful example of the wealthy refusing to share the benefits their employees created for them. This is 2023, not 1923.
Workers in this country need to be paid a living wage and a fair wage. Companies will do all they can to stiff workers out of pay while pressuring them to do more and more. Exec pay is out of control while workers live from paycheck to paycheck. It is time for a change.
Should picket Biden with his EV that cuts jobs and reckless spending causes inflation.
NOT 42% or 4 day work week.
the President and Congress need to go after corporate greed.
Any one remember why the car industry went bankrupt a number of years ago? Tax payers "bailed them out" most repaid their loans.
Caused by unrealistic negotiations. Once again we are seeing that.
They can all be replaced with work visa immigrants.
Just heard tRump is going to OH to support UAW! That's rich.
This man will fought unions in his hotel in Vegas. The culinary union finally got a contract in 2018. His workers make less than any other workers on the strip. He'll call that "good business". I call it greed & hypocrisy.
Don't continue to be fooled by Don the Con
https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-hotel-culinary-union-20161221-story.html
https://www.vice.com/en/article/ae5bak/trump-wants-to-make-america-great-again-but-not-if-youre-his-hotel-employee
Excellent idea. Drive the cost of automobiles up.Sales go down plants have layoffs. Win win
We need a FEDERAL minimum wage!
We need to tax the rich!
The auto makers know their cars are made by people, bought be people, and they need to make sure their people can continue to work to make more product that people will buy.
I'm glad that President Biden did more than talk by showing up for the UAW workers today. Yes, this is a complicated strike and Biden's policies have put some pressure on the workers, but we can make the transition to a green economy a just transition where the workers are still being treated and paid well. President Biden knows this and has shown his support by walking the picket lines today.
Let's not forget all the ways that Trump and the GOP have fought against workers in the past few years: weakening labor laws, cripping unions and union membership, and continuing to give handouts to corporate executives while ignoring the rank-and-file workers' needs.
Got a job? Then get your butt to work.
Separation of wealth is too great!
As long as the Republicans are threatening a shutdown of the government - since they can't get their shitty policies passed the democratic way - I say the whole country should go on strike until they back off!