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.
Another example of how the government screws over American owned companies.
The big three were forced by the government to unionize. The foreign automakers who have plants in the US don’t. In fact the last unionization drive at the VW plant in Chattanooga TN overwhelmingly failed.
If there were any justice in this world the government would allow all auto manufacturers to get rid of the unions. But I don’t see the Brandon crew ever allowing that.
Probably more like "aw crap, we spent all the strike fund money on trips to Vegas. We can't afford to pay all of the workers of any of the big three. What are we gonna do?"
The initial targeted assembly disruptions are:
Ford Bronco - Detroit MI
Stellantis Jeep - Toledo OH
GM Pickups - Wentzville MO
The auto companies are most worried about disruptions to parts.
At the end of August, Stellantis had 74 days of unsold inventory, a measure of how much stock is available if their plants were immediately shut down. Ford had 64 days of supply, while GM, which had some plants down recently because of parts shortages, had 50 days of available vehicles.
“I presume that they’ve targeted the plants that make the most profitable vehicles for each company”
One would think, but no as far as Ford is concerned. F-150 is the cash king and its made in Missouri. Mustangs at Flat Rock. The Ford plant on strike is Bronco and Ranger production. Less than 130k between them were sold last year. Over 650k F-150’s sold.
You said a lot, all truths. I for one would like to see the UAW lose and lose big. Unions are unnecessary and are just a financial drain on the employees they claim to represent.
I was forced to join two unions before I started my own businesses. The money I gave to the Teamsters and the International Operating Engineers union was as beneficial as giving my 15 year old great grandson a thousand dollars, a fifth of Jack Daniels and when he was through with the bourbon pitch him the key fob for my H-D FLTRU Road Glide.
“…just give them the whole company”
Isn’t that what Barry did with Chrysler/Dodge? I’m sure there’s been some discussion about that in the union offices.
The companies should close down all of their union plants, except the ones producing electric vehicles. Show the employees what the Democrats have planned for them.
This.
Three years too late. But hey, better late than never… unless of course, you’re already dead.
Oops. Wrong thread!
Geez. Not enough kick back to the UAW head cheese bunch. Been seeing a ton of union backed “branDUHn is super awesome!!!” ads the last week or so with IBEW assclowns gushing praise. Well, actors maybe but....... 🖕
Much like when I go to a fast food restaurant and get the wrong order and crappy service… these auto “workers” need to build a better more reliable (and more easily serviceable) product if they want more money.
All the other workers have to go to work, get paid and live as usual, while their union brothers enjoy walking the line and trying to feed their families with no paychecks. If the company caves, everyone gets the benefits, not just the strikers.
We used to call them "scabs" 'way back when.
Old union joke...
What do you do when your nose goes on strike?
Pick it!
Hopefully it's the EV plants.
Gm employees were making over $65 an hour in wages & benefits YEARS AGO.
What happened?
With the raise they are demanding-—HOW much would their wages be—with benefits???
Hopefully local landlords will evict the UAW strikers.
DETAILS??????
SOOOO—DO THE MATH
150,000 workers at $150,000/year.
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