Posted on 09/15/2023 5:01:35 AM PDT by bert
The United Auto Workers union went on strike at three plants owned by the Big Three automakers – General Motors, Ford and Stellantis – after the two sides did not reach a new labor deal on Thursday night.
The workers are striking at a GM plant in Wentzville, Missouri; a Stellantis plant in Toledo, Ohio; and a Ford plant in Wayne, Michigan. Plants that were not called upon to strike will work without a contract, UAW President Shawn Fain said.
"The UAW Stand Up Strike begins at all three of the Big Three," the union said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, shortly after midnight on Friday.
Fain says this strategy will keep the automotive corporations guessing, with leadership determining further strikes.
UAW workers will hold a rally on Friday at 4 p.m. ET.
The main point of contention between the two sides is higher pay, with Fain saying the union is seeking a more than 40% general pay raise for rank-and-file members over four years.
Full-time assembly plant workers at Ford and GM earn $32.32 an hour, while part-timers currently make about $17 an hour. Full-time employees at Stellantis earn $31.77 an hour, and part-time workers earn close to $16 an hour.
The union is also pushing for making all temporary workers at the automakers permanent, cost-of-living adjustments, increases in pension benefits for current retirees and restoring pensions for new hires, among other benefits.
Ticker Security Last Change Change % GM GENERAL MOTORS CO. 33.66 0.00 0.00% F FORD MOTOR CO. 12.62 -0.02 -0.16% STLA STELLANTIS NV 18.84 -0.11 -0.58%
Fain has called the demands the "most audacious and ambitious list of proposals they've seen in decades."
Experts say the strike could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars.
That is according to a new analysis from the Anderson Economic Group, a Michigan-based think tank that specializes in the economic impact of labor strikes. The report estimates that economic losses from a 10-day work stoppage could cost about $5.6 billion.
"Even a short strike would impact economies throughout Michigan and across the nation," said Patrick Anderson, CEO of the Anderson Economic Group.
That figure includes manufacturer losses of $989 million and lost direct wages of $859 million. It does not take into consideration strike pay, unemployment benefits, unemployment taxes, income taxes, government spending or settlement bonuses.
A look at the stock prices makes a lie out of the UAW claims of great wealth. The Ford stock price hovering around only $12 is the certain indicator that the UAW is in existential crisis. The rticle worries about the US economy needlessly. All slack created by the Big Three will be taken up by the more competent American auto manufacturers.
Tesla stock rose back above the $275 per share price
If the rank-and-file had any sense they’d decertify their union.
Haven’t bought anything from the Big Three since the Chevy Astro van in ‘85. Before that, had a Ford, Pontiac, Plymouth and Buick.
I do learn, if slowly.
Yes, let’s make cars even more expensive.
Timing wise, I hope this drives the price of used cars up as I am in the process of selling one.
I presume that they've targeted the plants that make the most profitable vehicles for each company.
We'll see how this strategy works. It causes pain for the automaker, but not too much, and it limits how much the UAW has to draw down it's strike fund.
In Lafayette IN, all SUBARU'S are made there.
If they were striking to stop the transition to EVs I’d be all for the strike.
I bet the union mafia rat ba$tard bosses know that if they do strike at all the plants..they would be toast
an assembly plant worker makes $32.32 an hour plus benefits, which ultimately means they are making (or costing their employer) about 100 - 110K per year for at best semi-skilled labor.
They want COLA increases on top of 40% wage increases over the next 4 years?!!! Audacious isn’t the word I would use to describe the demands.
I’ll miss these guys as much as I’ve missed the Hollywood writers.
Clown show.
UAW pres is “Shawn Fain”...
What’s the name of the commie Irish terrorist group?
Effing circus run by the clowns in America.
They only wanted a 40% pay increase, guaranteed jobs, full pensions, and 32 hour work weeks. I don’t see why they shouldn’t get 100% raises, double pensions, and ‘come in when you feel like it’ work weeks. Damn, just give them the whole company.
Ford stock has been hovering around 12 for the past year. They live on the F150 (ICE) sales.
Biden said Strike would NEVER happen. Wrong again!!
Wages average $32 an hour plus benefits averaging about $25-30 an hour more. They’re not starving.
Joey to the rescue !!!!
Union strike is just a polite way of saying communist greed.
They struck 3 of the slowest sellers, guessing that they will settle quick.
Maybe the Big Three welcomed this strike … because it makes it easier to just stop producing any of those vehicles entirely. Then those UAW workers don’t have to worry about going back to work anyway.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.