The powerful UAW union is calling for a tougher strike that is penalizing the automobile industry in the USA. Stellantis, Ford and General Motors remain under pressure from work stoppages which now affect 25,600 employees.
The strike extension includes two sites, one owned by Ford in Chicago and the other owned by GM in Lansing, Michigan. ©Adobestock.com/Snehit Photo
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union last week called on 7,000 new members to stop work. This brings the total number of strikers to nearly 25,600 employees at the three major American automobile manufacturers.
While the movement has now lasted two weeks, the extension of the strike concerns two sites, one belonging to Ford, in Chicago, and the other, owned by GM, in Lansing (Michigan).
Progress in discussions with Stellantis
Shawn Fain, president of the all-powerful UAW union, however, asked Stellantis employees not to expand the movement. The latter in fact believes that “significant progress” should be highlighted on several points currently being discussed.
He mentioned a mechanism for adjusting salaries to the cost of living as well as the right to strike in the event of a site closure and relocation announcement by the manufacturer. “We are excited to see this momentum at Stellantis and hope to see it continue“, did he declare.
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It is true that the American market is essential for the Stellantis group. This market generates an operating margin of 17.5% compared to 10.7% for enlarged Europe. 57% of the operating profit recorded in the first half by the manufacturer came from the United States.
Ford in turmoil
But the tide seems to have turned, and the president of the UAW attacked Ford for having suspended, on Monday, construction work on a battery factory in Michigan, considered a major project of the Dearborn group (Michigan).
Ford management reacted on Friday, and the general manager, Jim Farley, accused the UAW of bad faith, accusing it of telling its members that the group’s transition to electric would cause job cuts at short term.
“What is really frustrating is that we could have found a compromise on the salary aspects“, said Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, “but for now, the UAW has stuck to the issue of battery factories.” (With AFP)
2023-10-02 14:57:02
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