High wage demands and better conditions
For the first time in history, the UAW union is simultaneously striking at the three major American car manufacturers, the so-called ‘Big Three’. This is of course about higher wages, but also about better conditions in other areas.
Led by the United Auto Workers (UAW), a strike has started at General Motors’ Wentzville Assembly, Stellantis’ Toledo Assembly and Ford’s Michigan Assembly. This immediately brings us to the three major car manufacturers mentioned, where ‘Stellantis’ of course refers to the American branch, or the former Chrysler/FCA.
According to CNBC, a total of 12,700 employees are leaving their jobs. A total of about 146,000 employees are represented within the UAW and the union seems determined to use the rest to achieve what it wants. That is a wage increase of no less than 40 percent over the next four years, Reuters reports. The UAW also wants a 32-hour work week and better pensions.
Ford CEO Jim Farley reportedly told CNN that he had not heard back from Ford’s counter offer of a 20 percent increase over the same period. Farley also says the proposed 40 percent “would put us out of business.” However, union leader Shawn Fain argues that the carmakers are greedy and that there will be more than enough profit for them even after the wage increases.
As long as the UAW and the carmakers cannot reach an agreement, the union will continue to call on employees of specific factories at short notice to leave work. In this way, Ford, GM and Stellantis do not anticipate and the pressure is therefore maximally increased.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl