UAW Closes in on Strike Against Detroit Automakers - The Detroit Bureau

UAW Closes in on Strike Against Detroit Automakers – The Detroit Bureau

Time Stamp: September 14, 2023 11:07 AM
Source Node: 2270720

The United Auto Workers union is on the verge of an unprecedented strike against all three of Detroit’s automakers at the same time by the end of the day.

Fain cast two 9-13-23
UAW President Shawn Fain laid out the plan for a series of “stand up strikes” if a contract agreement cannot be reached.

Shawn Fain, the UAW’s acerbic president, said during a Facebook Live appearance, the union was prepared to use a series of selective strikes or what he called “Stand-Up Strikes” at each of Detroit three automakers if there is no settlement is reached Thursday by 11:59 p.m. 

Selective strikes have been used during national negotiations since the 1980s and help the union preserve its strike fund, while tying up production and shipments to dealers.

Union prepares to stand up

The Stand-Up Strike is a new approach to striking. Instead of striking all plants all at once, select locals will be called on to “Stand Up” and walk out on strike, noted Fain. He added the union is planning a rally Friday afternoon after the contract expires, raising concerns the union has already decided a walkout is inevitable.

“We’re focused on the here and now,” Gene Sperling, the White House Adviser assigned to watch the negotiations told the White House. “Right now, you want everybody at the table 24/7 working to hammer out an agreement that ensures UAW jobs continue to be strong middle-class jobs and that UAW workers stay at the center of an auto future made in America.” 

UAW Big Three changes graphic 9-13-23

Since 2019, profits of Detroit’s Three automakers have increased by 65%, car prices have increased 34%, inflation has gone up 20% but wages have increased by just 6%, while labor costs have gone up between 4% to 5%, according to the UAW.

Fain adds the automakers could afford to double the wages of auto workers and it would not have impact on their financial position.

Automakers respond to union proposals

The negotiations are continuing basically around the clock. But Fain’s attacks — and his decision to negotiate simultaneously with all three companies appears to have rattled the automakers.

Ford CEO Jim Farley complained, “The first we learned President Fain received the offer was on Facebook Live this evening. So again, we are here and ready to reach a deal. We should be working creatively to solve hard problems rather than planning strikes and PR events.” 

“On Tuesday, Bill Ford, Ford’s executive chairman who has participated in negotiations with the UAW going back to 1982, and I sat down with the union at the main table for a major offer,” Farley added. “As we were walking in the room, we learned President Fain would not be attending. Nevertheless, Bill and I laid out a historically generous offer to the UAW Ford bargaining team because we listened to the UAW demands and we care about our employees.”

UAW Wages graphic 9-13-23

The offer “significantly” increased Ford’s proposal on wage increases; offered Cost of Living Adjustments, or COLA; fully eliminated wage tiers so all employees can achieve industry-leading wages — and shortened to four from eight years the time it takes hourly employees to reach the top wage; and increased contributions to in-progression retirement savings, he noted.

Farley said they “continued to meet with the UAW subcommittees to resolve outstanding issues, proof that we can work together to find solutions on tough subjects. We also passed our second economic offer as promised as well as a third offer yesterday.”

GM also says the negotiators are continuing efforts to reach a settlement. 

“We continue to bargain directly and in good faith with the UAW and have presented additional strong offers. We are making progress in key areas that we believe are most important to our represented team members. This includes historic guaranteed annual wage increases, investments in our U.S. manufacturing plants to provide opportunities for all and shortening the time for in-progression employees to reach maximum wages,” GM said in a statement.

Time Stamp:

More from The Detroid Bureau