The United Auto Workers (UAW) strike against Detroit’s Big Three automakers has entered its sixth week, and the atmosphere is intensifying as negotiations narrow down. With picket lines still in place and no union-approved deal on the horizon, the strike’s endurance is starting to make both sides anxious. In this article, we’ll delve into the current state of affairs in week six of the UAW’s auto strike.
Narrowing the Gap in Negotiations
Over the past few weeks, there has been a noticeable shift in the negotiations between the UAW and the Big Three automakers. These negotiations began in July but continued even after the strike commenced on September 15 when the union contracts expired.
Recent weeks have seen fewer announcements of additional strike targets, and both parties have acknowledged that talks are making progress. Each of the automakers has improved its offers, inching closer to the union’s extensive list of demands. These demands include a substantial wage increase, cost-of-living allowances, pension restoration, and more.
The UAW is pushing for a 36% wage increase, and the automakers have all presented wage increases exceeding 20%, a significant leap from their initial single-digit offers. Additionally, the car manufacturers have agreed to eliminate wage tiers for some workers, enhance retirement benefits, and introduce options to improve work-life balance for autoworkers.
Notably, General Motors (GM) has agreed to include its electric vehicle (EV) battery production under the UAW’s national contract, effectively unionizing these facilities. This concession is significant as carmakers are investing billions in an EV-centric future, raising concerns among autoworkers about their role in this changing landscape. GM is the sole member of the Big Three to make such a commitment.
During his update on October 20, UAW President Shawn Fain indicated that “serious movement” had occurred in negotiations with Stellantis and GM, with both companies significantly increasing their financial offers.
However, the situation with Ford appeared less promising.
The Uncertain Road to Resolution
Both the UAW and the automakers are eager to reach an agreement and bring an end to the strike. As the strike progresses into its sixth week, negotiations have become even more tense, with a growing number of unionized and non-unionized facilities feeling the impact.
Despite the apparent progress in negotiations, both sides agree that there is still work to be done.
The UAW has maintained its goal of securing a “record contract” for autoworkers in light of the companies’ recent “record profits.” While carmakers argue that their latest offers constitute “record” contracts, Fain conceded that they still fall short following the concessions made by autoworkers during and after the Great Recession.
Fain stated, “There is more to be won… These are already record contracts, but they come at the end of decades of record decline, so it’s not enough to be the best-ever when autoworkers have gone backward over the last two decades.”
The situation as of October 20 did not reveal which of the three automakers was closest to striking a deal. Although GM had not faced new strikes recently and had made substantial progress the prior week, Fain expressed concerns about the company’s stance, particularly in relation to wage progression and plant closures.
Fain said, “GM, in particular, is worrying. They tell us they need a two-tiered wage progression because they expect to do a lot of hiring. At the same time, they threaten product and won’t give us the right to strike over plant closures.”
In contrast, Stellantis also faced challenges, and the UAW announced a strike at the company’s largest plant on Monday.
Despite the tension, Fain did suggest that bargaining had reached its “last mile,” implying that a resolution may be in sight.
A New Stellantis Strike
On October 23, approximately 6,800 UAW-represented autoworkers initiated a strike at Stellantis’ Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, the company’s largest facility. This expansion of the strike increased the total number of striking autoworkers to 40,000, accounting for around 27% of the UAW’s 146,000 autoworkers.
The UAW decided to escalate its strike against Stellantis due to the company presenting the “worst proposal on the table” concerning wage progression, temporary worker pay, conversion to full-time roles, cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), and other factors.
The Sterling Heights plant is responsible for manufacturing Ram pickup trucks and is Stellantis’ most profitable facility.
Stellantis expressed outrage over the UAW’s decision to declare another strike. The company claimed to have made a strong offer that would address member demands and provide immediate financial benefits to its employees. In its statement, Stellantis criticized the UAW for harming the automotive industry, local economies, and national economies through its actions.
Continued Unrest and Future Strikes
Earlier this month, Fain announced that the UAW would no longer wait until Fridays to declare additional strike locations, marking a shift toward a more aggressive phase of the strike. This phase allows autoworkers to walk out from their Big Three facilities “at any time” when the union deems it necessary.
Recent Friday updates from Fain have not included announcements of additional strikes. Instead, new strikes were announced on October 11 when Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant was added to the strike and on October 23 when Stellantis’ Sterling Heights plant joined the strike.
The UAW’s strategy now involves targeting facilities that produce the automakers’ most profitable vehicles, such as pickup trucks and large SUVs. This shift signifies the union’s willingness to impact facilities with greater financial implications, as seen with the strike at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant, the company’s most profitable facility.
As of October 23, approximately 40,000 of the UAW’s 146,000 autoworkers were participating in strikes at 45 Big Three facilities.
Current Strike Locations
Here is a list of the current strike locations for GM, Stellantis, and Ford:
GM
- Wentzville Assembly
- Davison Road Processing Center
- Flint Processing Center
- Lansing Redistribution
- Pontiac Redistribution
- Willow Run Redistribution
- Ypsilanti Processing Center
- Chicago Parts Distribution
- Cincinnati Parts Distribution
- Hudson, Wisconsin Parts Distribution
- Denver Parts Distribution
- Reno Parts Distribution Center
- Rancho Cucamonga Parts Distribution
- Fort Worth Parts Distribution
- Martinsburg, West Virginia Parts Distribution
- Jackson, Mississippi Parts Distribution
- Charlotte, North Carolina Parts Distribution
- Memphis AC Delco Parts Distribution
- Philadelphia Parts Distribution
- Lansing Delta Township plant
Stellantis
- Sterling Heights Assembly Plant
- Toledo Assembly Complex
- Centerline Packaging
- Centerline Warehouse
- Marysville
- Sherwood (Warren)
- Warren Parts
- Quality Engineering Center (Auburn Hills)
- Romulus
- Chicago
- Cleveland
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Denver
- Los Angeles
- Portland, Oregon
- Atlanta
- Winchester, Virginia
- Orlando
- Dallas
- New York
- Boston
Ford
- Michigan Assembly Plant (final assembly and paint only)
- Kentucky Truck Plant
- Chicago Assembly Plant
