Auto workers expand strike nationwide: ‘We’ll take as long as we have to’

Summary

The United Auto Workers (UAW) has expanded its strike against General Motors and Stellantis, with 38 more sites joining the picket line across 20 states. The union demands include a 36% wage increase over four years, profit-sharing, job security, and changes to convert temporary workers into permanent ones. While progress has been made with Ford, GM and Stellantis have not met the union's expectations. The strike is expected to impact consumers as it shifts focus from production to distribution centers. The White House and former President Trump are both expected to engage with the striking workers.

Takeaways

• 📢 The United Auto Workers (UAW) expanded their strike against Detroit's Big Three auto manufacturers, with 38 more sites joining the picket line.
• 🔄 UAW President Shawn Fain called for an additional 5,600 autoworkers to join the 13,000 already on strike, focusing on General Motors (GM) and Stellantis.
• 🚫 Ford was spared from additional work stoppages as the UAW recognized 'real progress' in negotiations with them regarding cost of living adjustments, profit-sharing, and job security.
• 💰 The UAW is demanding wage hikes of 36 percent over four years, which the carmakers have only partially met with an offer of about 20 percent.
• 🏭 GM and Stellantis failed to meet the union's demands for cost of living allowances, offering zero increases, and rejected proposals for profit-sharing and job security.
• 🔄 The union also seeks to convert temporary workers into permanent positions, which the automakers have not agreed to.
• 💼 Other UAW demands include a four-day workweek, traditional pension plans, and the end of tiered wages to recover losses from the 2008 financial crisis.
• 🚗 Automakers argue they cannot meet many demands due to the high costs associated with the shift to electric vehicles.
• 🗣️ GM President Mark Reuss criticized the UAW's demands in an op-ed, calling them 'untenable', and highlighting the high base wage of represented employees.
• 🏛️ President Biden is set to visit Michigan after being invited by the union, while former President Trump is also expected to meet with union workers, indicating political interest in the strike.
• ⏳ The strike is expected to impact consumers as it shifts focus from production to distribution centers, with workers prepared for a long-term standoff.

Q & A

What is the current situation regarding the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike?

The UAW has expanded their strike against two of Detroit's Big Three auto manufacturers, with workers at 38 more sites in 20 different states joining the picket line.

Which auto manufacturers are currently being targeted by the UAW strike?

The UAW is currently targeting General Motors (GM) and Stellantis, focusing on their parts distribution facilities for dealerships.

Why was Ford spared from additional work stoppages for now?

Ford was spared because the UAW reported making 'real progress' with Ford on issues such as cost of living adjustments, profit-sharing, and job security.

What are the main issues that the UAW is trying to negotiate with GM and Stellantis?

The main issues include cost of living allowances, profit-sharing, job security, conversion of temporary to permanent positions, wage hikes, a four-day workweek, traditional pension plans, and the end of tiered wages.

What percentage wage increase is the UAW demanding over four years?

The UAW is demanding a wage increase of 36 percent over four years.

How much of the UAW's wage increase demand have the carmakers offered so far?

The carmakers have offered about 20 percent across the board, which is more than half of the UAW's demand.

What is the auto industry's main argument against meeting the union's demands?

The auto industry argues that they cannot meet many of the union's demands due to the expensive shift to electric vehicles.

What did GM President Mark Reuss say about the UAW's demands in his op-ed published by the Detroit Free Press?

Mark Reuss described the UAW's demands as 'untenable' and stated that 85 percent of current represented employees would earn a base wage of approximately $82,000.

How is the White House responding to the strike situation?

President Biden will travel to Michigan after the union invited him to the picket lines, although he has not gotten too involved in the negotiations.

What is the stance of former President Donald Trump regarding the UAW strike?

Former President Donald Trump is expected to meet with union workers, as he is trying to gain their support, and the union leadership has expressed that a second Trump presidency would be a disaster.

What impact does the UAW expect the strike expansion to have on consumers?

The UAW expects consumers to feel the impact of the strike expansion as the focus shifts from production plants to distribution centers, potentially affecting the availability of vehicles.

How long is the union prepared to continue the strike?

The union is prepared for a lasting standoff and is ready to negotiate at any time if the companies are willing to come back to the table.

Outlines

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🚜 Autoworkers' Nationwide Strike Expands

The United Auto Workers (UAW) has expanded their strike against General Motors (GM) and Stellantis, two of Detroit's Big Three auto manufacturers, as 38 more sites in 20 states join the picket line. UAW President Shawn Fain called for an additional 5,600 autoworkers to join the 13,000 already striking, targeting parts distribution facilities for dealerships. While progress has been made with Ford on cost of living adjustments and job security, GM and Stellantis have not met the union's demands, including profit-sharing and job security, leading to the strike. The UAW is also seeking wage hikes of 36 percent over four years, a four-day workweek, traditional pension plans, and the end of tiered wages. The automakers argue that they cannot meet these demands due to the industry's shift to electric vehicles, which is costly. The strike is expected to impact consumers as distribution centers become the focus of the standoff.

Keywords

💡Government shutdown

A government shutdown occurs when non-essential federal government offices close due to lack of funding approval. In the script, it is mentioned as a looming threat, indicating ongoing political disputes and their potential impact on government operations.

💡Indictment

An indictment is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. The script refers to a top senator being indicted, highlighting legal and ethical challenges faced by lawmakers, which can influence public trust in the government.

💡Military promotions block

A block on military promotions refers to a situation where promotions within the military are halted, often due to political disputes or legislative gridlock. The script notes that lawmakers found a way around a months-long block, showing efforts to resolve political impasses.

💡United Auto Workers (UAW) strike

The UAW strike is a labor action by the United Auto Workers union against Detroit's Big Three auto manufacturers. The strike aims to address issues like wages, job security, and working conditions. The script details the expansion of this strike to more sites, indicating its growing impact.

💡Cost of living adjustments

Cost of living adjustments (COLAs) are changes made to wages or benefits to account for inflation. The script mentions progress with Ford on COLAs, reflecting ongoing negotiations to ensure workers' wages keep pace with inflation.

💡Profit-sharing

Profit-sharing is a company program that gives employees a share of the company's profits. The script discusses the union's proposal for profit-sharing with GM and Stellantis, which was rejected, illustrating the financial disagreements in the labor negotiations.

💡Job security

Job security refers to the stability and permanence of employment. The script highlights job security as a key issue in the UAW negotiations, with the union seeking guarantees against layoffs and temporary positions.

💡Electric vehicles (EVs)

Electric vehicles are cars powered by electricity instead of traditional internal combustion engines. The script notes that automakers argue they cannot meet union demands due to the costly shift to EVs, showing the industry's evolving landscape and its economic implications.

💡Wage hikes

Wage hikes refer to increases in employee pay. The script states that the UAW is demanding a 36% wage hike over four years, while automakers have offered about 20%. This reflects the core financial conflict between labor and management.

💡Four-day workweek

A four-day workweek is a proposed change to reduce the standard workweek from five to four days. The script mentions this as one of the union's demands, aiming to improve work-life balance for employees.

Highlights

United Auto Workers (UAW) expands strike against General Motors (GM) and Stellantis, adding 38 more sites in 20 states.

UAW President Shawn Fain calls for additional 5,600 autoworkers to join the 13,000 already on strike.

UAW spares Ford from additional work stoppages after making 'real progress' on cost of living adjustments, profit-sharing, and job security.

GM and Stellantis fail to meet UAW demands on cost of living allowances, profit-sharing, job security, and converting temps to permanent positions.

UAW demands a 36% wage hike over four years, with carmakers offering around 20% so far.

Union proposes a four-day workweek, traditional pension plans, and end of tiered wages to recover losses from the 2008 financial crisis.

Automakers argue they cannot meet many UAW demands due to the industry's shift to electric vehicles.

GM President Mark Reuss calls UAW demands 'untenable' in a Detroit Free Press op-ed.

President Biden plans to visit Michigan after being invited by the union, while keeping a distance from negotiations.

Former President Donald Trump is expected to meet with union workers, attempting to gain their support.

UAW leadership views a second Trump presidency as disastrous.

Consumers may feel the impact of the strike as it expands from production plants to distribution centers.

Union workers are prepared for a lasting standoff, showing determination in negotiations.

UAW's strike aims to draw attention from car buyers and owners to pressure manufacturers.

Striking workers are from GM facilities in Flint, Michigan, to Stellantis distribution centers in Dallas, Texas.

UAW's demands and automakers' responses highlight the tension between workers' rights and industry transformation.

The strike's expansion signifies a potential disruption in the auto industry's supply chain.

Transcripts

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Welcome to the  "NewsHour." I'm William Brangham.

On Capitol Hill today, a  looming government shutdown,  

a top senator is indicted, and  lawmakers find a way around a  

monthslong block on military promotions.  More on those developments in a moment.

But, first, the United Auto Workers expanded  their strike against two of Detroit's Big Three  

auto manufacturers today. Workers at 38 more  sites in 20 different states are now joining  

the picket line, all part of a move designed  to get the attention of car buyers and owners.

Ali Rogin reports.

ALI ROGIN:  

From GM facilities in Flint, Michigan, to  Stellantis distribution centers in Dallas, Texas,  

autoworkers have taken their walkouts nationwide,  following the union's latest rallying cry.

SHAWN FAIN, President, United Auto Workers: Today,  

at noon Eastern time, all of the  parts distribution facilities at  

General Motors and Stellantis are  being called to stand up and strike.

ALI ROGIN: UAW President Shawn  Fain called on an additional 5,600  

autoworkers to join the 13,000 already on strike  against the Detroit Big Three manufacturers.

UAW is now targeting GM and Stellantis  and their parts distribution facilities  

for dealerships. But it spared Ford from any  additional work stoppages for now. Fain said  

the union made -- quote -- "real progress" with  Ford this week on cost of living adjustments,  

profit-sharing and job security.  But a deal is far from done.

SHAWN FAIN: We still have  serious issues to work through,  

but we do want to recognize that Ford is showing  that they're serious about reaching a deal.  

At GM and Stellantis, it's a different story.

ALI ROGIN: Those two automakers fell  short on cost of living allowances,  

providing zero increases over a four-year term.  They also rejected the union's profit-sharing and  

job security proposals, as well as changes that  would convert temps into permanent positions.

UAW has other demands for all three companies,  most notably, wage hikes of 36 percent over  

four years. So far, the carmakers have  put forward little more than half that,  

about 20 percent across the board. The union  has also proposed other significant changes,  

a four-day workweek and traditional pension  plans and the end of tiered wages, all aimed  

at getting back some of what workers  lost during the 2008 financial crisis.

The automakers argue they cannot  meet many of the union's demands,  

largely due to the industry's expensive shift  to electric vehicles. Earlier this week,  

Detroit Free Press published an  op-ed by GM President Mark Reuss,  

writing -- quote -- "Eighty-five percent of  current represented employees would earn a  

base wage of approximately $82,000. The UAW's  demands can be described in one word, untenable."

Late today, the White House announced  President Biden will travel to Michigan  

on Tuesday after the union dialed  up the pressure by inviting him to  

the picket lines. While the president  has expressed support for the workers,  

he has steered clear of getting too  involved, including in the negotiations.

Just one day later, former President Donald Trump  is also expected to meet with union workers,  

instead of attending the second  presidential debate. The former  

president is trying to peel off union  workers to support him. For its part,  

the union leadership has said a second  Trump presidency would be a disaster.

In the meantime, UAW says consumers will  feel the impact of this strike expansion,  

as the attention turns from production  plants to distribution centers. Workers  

say they're prepared for a lasting standoff.

TAMMY SLAYTON, Chair, Union 2083:  We will take as long as we have to.  

If they are willing to come back and  negotiate, we will be ready at any time.

ALI ROGIN: For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Ali Rogin.