Posted on Sep 19, 2023
UAW strike: Why are US car workers walking out?
787
18
14
5
5
0
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has declared a strike targeting Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, in a bid to put pressure on the carmakers to grant higher pay and make other improvements in new labour agreements.
It comes at a time of broader labour unrest and casts a cloud of uncertainty over an industry that accounts for 3% of the national economy.
US President Joe Biden has been forced to weigh in on the dispute, which is playing out in states that have disproportionate importance in national elections.
It comes at a time of broader labour unrest and casts a cloud of uncertainty over an industry that accounts for 3% of the national economy.
US President Joe Biden has been forced to weigh in on the dispute, which is playing out in states that have disproportionate importance in national elections.
UAW strike: Why are US car workers walking out?
Posted from bbc.com
Cars
Jobs
Employment
Economics
Posted 8 mo ago
Responses: 5
2
2
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."What are the UAW demands?
The walkout began on 15 September after the expiration of 2019 labour contracts between the union and three companies on 14 September.
The two sides are negotiating over issues such as pay, days off and cost of living adjustments.
UAW president Shawn Fain has cast the fight as part of a broader battle over economic justice and the billionaire class.
The UAW opened negotiations seeking a 40% pay rise over the four years of the contract.
The union has rebuffed claims that the figure is outlandish, noting double-digit jumps in the pay packages for company bosses, a surge in profits - and money the companies have spent buying their own shares - as well as decades of declining pay power in the industry, including in recent years, when prices surged.
The chief executives of all three companies had pay packages last year worth more than $20m.
The fight also comes as the industry is investing heavily in electric vehicles. The union is worried about that shift, since producing such cars requires fewer workers and currently involves non-union labor."...
..."What are the UAW demands?
The walkout began on 15 September after the expiration of 2019 labour contracts between the union and three companies on 14 September.
The two sides are negotiating over issues such as pay, days off and cost of living adjustments.
UAW president Shawn Fain has cast the fight as part of a broader battle over economic justice and the billionaire class.
The UAW opened negotiations seeking a 40% pay rise over the four years of the contract.
The union has rebuffed claims that the figure is outlandish, noting double-digit jumps in the pay packages for company bosses, a surge in profits - and money the companies have spent buying their own shares - as well as decades of declining pay power in the industry, including in recent years, when prices surged.
The chief executives of all three companies had pay packages last year worth more than $20m.
The fight also comes as the industry is investing heavily in electric vehicles. The union is worried about that shift, since producing such cars requires fewer workers and currently involves non-union labor."...
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I'm a union man myself. Leaving the internal combustion engine instead of President Biden mandating without our vote or without the vote of congress, that the internal combustion engine go away by 2035 and having unrealistic fuel economy standards and killing the trucking industry.
The CEO of Ford can be stubborn like President Biden is stupid but if we don't want to buy them, no government subsidies in the world is going to make a difference.
https://www.opb.org/article/2023/08/11/ford-is-losing-a-lot-of-money-in-electric-cars-but-ceo-jim-farley-is-charging-ahead/
The CEO of Ford can be stubborn like President Biden is stupid but if we don't want to buy them, no government subsidies in the world is going to make a difference.
https://www.opb.org/article/2023/08/11/ford-is-losing-a-lot-of-money-in-electric-cars-but-ceo-jim-farley-is-charging-ahead/
Ford is losing a lot of money in electric cars — but CEO Jim Farley is charging ahead
In a wide-ranging interview, Ford's CEO shares his thoughts about his company's ramp-up in electric cars and the state of charging. (He's very happy about that Tesla deal, too.)
(2)
(0)
1
1
0
The union members took some pretty big concessions to keep the auto companies aloat. Then things turned around the owners and management, instead of rewarding the union members, kept the benefits for themselves and made moves to cut the union's power.
All I have to say is good for the union and I hope they let them have it.
All I have to say is good for the union and I hope they let them have it.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google