On Sept. 15, the United Auto Workers (UAW), the largest workers union started a strike. This strike was againstThe Big Three companies in the automobile industry: General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Stellantis.. There were more than 13,000 workers that walked out of the Big Three’s manufacturing plants.
The union stated that it wanted to use this stand up strike method to target the plants if a deal was not reached. As a reaction, Ford laid off more than 600 workers. Ford told ABC 6 that the strike has affected the production of cars (ABC News).
One week later on Sept. 22, the strike would expand to even more locations totaling up to more than 18,000 workers at the picket lines.
Some people may ask why they are striking? The workers want a 46% pay increase over four years, and also a 32 hour workweek at 40 hour pay. They also wanted protection against downsizing to Electric Vehicle (EV) plants, as these manufacturers are starting to focus on electric cars. I think The workers should be granted these demands because they are not that bad, considering The Big Three have been recording record profits over the past few years. However, The Big Three refused and instead counter offered with a 20% increase in pay while keeping the 40 hour workweek.
The UAW wanted to focus on the EV plant problem because workers were getting pay cuts to work at the plants since the cars are smaller and cost less to make. The Big Three’s goal is to make more plants dedicated to EV production.
The UAW declined this offer since they held all the power in the strike. They have cost The Big Three 2.6 billion dollars (Fox 2).
Progress has been made., On Oct. 30, a tentative deal was made. The UAW agreed to a 25% raise over a four and a half year deal. The workers would also get cost of living benefits and plant closing benefits, among other things in the deal. This deal will greatly improve the protection of workers rights. While the workers still should have gotten a better deal, this deal is still better for UAW than the previous one.
The union would also get protection for EVs as those plants cost less and the workers were getting paid less. The UAW made sure that the workers who eventually get moved from combustion car plants to EV plants would not take a pay cut (NBC News). After all of that the UAW settled for less than what they deserved.
