UAW keeps strike static, wage proposals up

Market: Metals, Petrochemicals
20/10/23

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has paused expanding its strike against the Big Three automakers this week, citing progress in negotiations.

The union declined to strike more plants this week as president Shawn Fain said wage increase proposals had risen and other issues were progressing. He warned that the union could strike new plants without warning if it felt it needed to put further pressure on any of Ford, General Motors (GM) and Stellantis.

The three automakers are all offering wage increases of 23pc for the duration of the new contract, will end tiered employment and have made other concessions to the UAW.

Fain said that "with no new plants out, both [GM and Stellantis] put a lot more money on the table" in the last 24 hours.

The leader's focus is to bring all three companies more in line in their proposals to the union, with gaps remaining on temporary workers, job security and cost of living proposals.

The UAW began its strike on 15 September and is striking at six auto plants across the three auto companies and 36 distribution centers at GM and Stellantis.

By Rye Druzin

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