Name: United Auto Workers Begin Historic Strike Against Ford, GM, Stellantis After Failing to Reach Deal
Uploaded: 2023-09-16T03:45:33.000Z
Description: United Auto Workers (UAW) union members have gone on strike against the three biggest automakers for the first time in history after failing to reach a deal on a new labor contract by the 11:59 p.m. Sept. 14 deadline.

Sean Marshall is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, primarily covering business and technology trends. 

Sean Marshall

NTD Plus

News

News with integrity, from the U.S. and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

PenFed Foundation: Empowering Veteran Entrepreneurs

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

Ebola Screening in Place at Atlanta Airport

Tom Gantert is a reporter for The Epoch Times.

Tom Gantert

World News

International

Rubio Calls India Key US Partner

Daniel Monaghan is a reporter for NTD News covering culture, social issues, and education. He holds a BA in Political Science and Government.

Daniel Monaghan

White House Week in Review (May 23): Castro Charges, Iran Strike Pause, TrumpRx Expansion

Rachel Acenas is an experienced journalist and TV news reporter and anchor covering breaking stories and contributing original news content for NTD's digital team.

Rachel Acenas

US News

Hegseth to West Point Cadets: ‘We’re Sending You, Perhaps, to War’

Dave Martin is NTD's Senior Sports Reporter and sports analyst. He also hosts "Data Hub" segments during NTD's special election coverage, "The Nation Decides."

Dave Martin

Cavaliers Need Win to Avoid 0–3 Deficit vs. Knicks

Troy Myers is a regional reporter based in St. Augustine, Florida. His background includes breaking, criminal justice, and investigative writing for local news, producing on a national morning newscast in Washington, D.C., and working with an award-winning, weekly investigative news program. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his dog at the beach.

Troy Myers

State News

District of Columbia

Shots Fired Outside White House, Suspect Dead: Secret Service

Middle East

Iran

Trump Says Iran Agreement ‘Largely Negotiated’

David Lam is a national correspondent based in California and a part-time anchor for "NTD Tonight." Before joining NTD he was a financial analyst.

David Lam

Child Safety Groups Urge FTC to Investigate Roblox

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

‘Tiffany Meier Tonight’ Premieres May 26, 8PM ET

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 25)

Chris Beers is an NTD News anchor and political correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Chris co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Chris Beers

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 24)

Arleen Richards is NTD's legal correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers all major legal stories. Arleen holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.).


Arleen Richards

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 23)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 22)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 21)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 20)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 19)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 18)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 17)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 16)

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

California

More Than 17,000 Under Evacuation Orders as Southern California Wildfire Threatens Homes

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Government Sues Chick-fil-A Over Religious Rights

Health News

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

Haika Mrema

Medical Plane Crash in New Mexico Mountains Kills 4, Sparks Wildfire

Rudy Blalock is a Southern California-based daily news reporter for NTD. Originally from Michigan, he moved to California in 2017 and the sunshine and ocean have kept him here since. In his free time, he may be found underwater scuba diving, on top of a mountain hiking or snowboarding, or at home meditating—which helps fuel his active lifestyle.

Rudy Blalock

Sports News

Kyle Busch, Two-Time NASCAR Champion, Dies at 41

India Responds to Trump’s Repost of Birthright Citizenship Comment

Trump Withdraws National Park Service Nominee

United Auto Workers (UAW) union members have gone on strike against the three biggest automakers for the first time in history after failing to reach a deal on a new labor contract by the 11:59 p.m. Sept. 14 deadline.

Despite weeks of negotiations, the union was unable to come to an agreement over contract negotiations with General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis—known as the big three—before current contracts expired, prompting thousands of its members to walk out of three factories across the country in Missouri, Michigan, and Ohio.

The strikes are taking place at Ford's Bronco assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan, GM's mid-sized pickup truck assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri, and Stellantis's Jeep assembly plant in Toledo, Ohio.

It is unclear how long the strikes will last, however UAW—the largest union in the nation—has an $825 million strike fund that will compensate workers $500 a week while out on strike.

Video footage shared online showed some of the strikes began promptly after midnight, with dozens of workers taking to the streets and holding posters stating "end tiers" and "record profits, record contracts," and chanting in support of the strikes and higher pay.

Members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) picket and hold signs outside of the UAW Local 900 headquarters across the street from the Ford Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich., on Sept. 15, 2023. (Matthew Hatcher/AFP via Getty Images)

"This fight is our generation’s defining moment," UAW said in a press release announcing the strike late Thursday. "Not just at the Big Three, but across the entire working class. We will stand up for ourselves. We will stand up for our families. We will stand up for our communities."

UAW represents some 150,000 workers at General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, however approximately 12,700 workers will be taking part in the strike, UAW President Shawn Fain said at a press conference Thursday night; 3,600 at GM, 3,300 at Ford, and 5,800 at Stellantis.

"Leading into the final hours of the strike deadline, we've been working hard trying to reach a deal for economic and social justice for our members. We have been firm. We are committed to winning an agreement with the big three that reflects the incredible sacrifice and contributions UAW members have made to these companies," Mr. Fain said.

The strikes are expected to have significant business and economic implications. According to Anderson Economic Group (AEG), a work stoppage of 10 days could result in a total economic loss of more than $5 billion. The strike also has the potential to lead to higher car prices amid lower inventories, according to AEG.
<h2>Strikes Will Have 'Wide-Ranging Consequences'</h2>
Meanwhile, the plants involved in the strikes are also critical to the three automakers' productions. Some of their most profitable vehicles include the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, and Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck.

A full strike at each of the automakers could see losses of around  $400 million to $500 million per week assuming all production was lost, Deutsche Bank has estimated.

Despite weeks of negotiations, union members and the big three have failed to reach an agreement over pay, enhanced benefits, and pensions.

United Auto Workers (UAW) president Shawn Fain speaks with members of the media and members of the UAW outside of the UAW Local 900 headquarters across the street from the Ford Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich., on Sept. 15, 2023. (Matthew Hatcher/AFP via Getty Images)

The union has proposed a four-year contract with 40 percent pay increases, a reduced 32-hour work week, the elimination of compensation tiers, a restoration of cost-of-living adjustments, and the restoration of traditional pensions, among other items.

The automakers, which have all recorded record or near-record profits, have so far declined to meet that rise, instead offering 20 percent without key benefits demanded by the union, citing concerns that such pay hikes could effectively put them out of business.

Hours before the deadline passed, Ford said it had bargained "in good faith" in an effort to avoid a strike, which the company said "could have wide-ranging consequences for our business and the economy."

The company said the last offer it submitted to the union was "historically generous, with large wage increases, cost of living adjustments, more paid time off, additional retirement contributions, and more."

"Unfortunately, the UAW’s counterproposal tonight showed little movement from the union’s initial demands submitted Aug. 3. If implemented, the proposal would more than double Ford’s current UAW-related labor costs, which are already significantly higher than the labor costs of Tesla, Toyota, and other foreign-owned automakers in the United States that utilize non-union-represented labor," the company said.

Ford said it remains "absolutely committed to reaching an agreement that rewards our employees and protects Ford’s ability to invest in the future as we move through industry-wide transformation."

General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra speaks during the opening of their contract talks with the United Auto Workers in Detroit, on July 16, 2019. (Paul Sancya/AP Photo)


<h2>Union Prepared to 'Go All Out'</h2>
General Motors said it was "disappointed by the UAW leadership's actions."

"Despite the unprecedented economic package GM put on the table, including historic wage increases and manufacturing commitments. We will continue to bargain in good faith with the union to reach an agreement as quickly as possible for the benefit of our team members, customers, suppliers, and communities across the U.S. In the meantime, our priority is the safety of our workforce," the automaker said in a statement Thursday.

Stellantis has not yet commented on the strikes. The Epoch Times has contacted a Stellantis spokesperson for comment.

The "stand-up strikes"—effectively staggered strikes across the various automakers' factories—are a nod to the historic "sit-down" strikes UAW members held in the 1930s, and avoid a full walkout.

UAW President Mr. Fain said during Thursday's press conference that the strategy will "keep the companies guessing," and give its national negotiators "maximum leverage and flexibility in bargaining."

However, Mr. Fain warned that the UAW will go "all out" if it needs to, adding that "everything is on the table."

He also clarified that workers who have not yet been called to join the strike will continue to work under the expired contract.

Speaking to reporters outside the Ford facility in Wayne minutes after the strike began Thursday, the union head criticized the three companies for allegedly failing to negotiate in good faith.

"They waited until the last week to want to get down to business, shame on them," he said. Mr. Fain also said he believes it is a complete "joke" that the companies have suggested the strikes may bankrupt them.

"The cost of labor that goes into a vehicle is 5 percent of the vehicle, they could double our wages and they could not raise the price of vehicles and they could still make billions of dollars, it is a lie like everything else that comes out of their mouths."

The union head also hinted that more strikes could take place at further facilities if the three companies are unable to meet the union's demands.

The last time there was a UAW strike was in 2019 when the union went on strike for six weeks against General Motors. It cost the automaker $3.6 billion.

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/united-auto-workers-begin-historic-strike-against-ford-gm-stellantis-after-failing-to-reach-deal-5492011">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Latest

workers

Videos

united

Business News

01_Lead Story

04_Top Stories

auto

ford

strike

Latest Clips

union

Management

Katabella Roberts is a former writer for The Epoch Times, focusing primarily on the U.S., world, and business news.

Katabella Roberts

Arian Pasdar is an international correspondent for NTD News based in South America. His reporting focuses on immigration and key events in Latin America.

Arian Pasdar

02_Second Lead

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.