GM idles Fairfax as UAW strike ripples out

US automaker General Motors (GM) has idled its Fairfax, Kansas, sedan and SUV plant as an ongoing strike ripples further into the industry.

The Fairfax plant had to shut down today because of a lack of stamped parts provided from GM's Wentzville, Missouri, plant, the automaker said in an email. The United Auto Workers (UAW) union began striking at Wentzville on 15 September.

GM said 2,000 employees were being laid off at Fairfax.

The UAW is striking Ford, GM and Stellantis at three separate plants, one each per automaker. The strike, which has encompassed less than 10pc of the union's membership, could expand on Friday afternoon if the union believes not enough progress has been made in contract negotiations.

The UAW has demanded 40pc wage increases, the restoration of cost of living adjustments, and the end to the tiered system of workers, among other demands. The automakers have increased their wage offers to half the level the union wants, and both sides appear to remain far apart.

In Canada, union Unifor and its represented auto workers struck a tentative deal with strike-target Ford yesterday.

By Rye Druzin