United Auto Workers (UAW) union leaders face a critical juncture as Thursday’s strike deadline approaches fast. According to reports from the Associated Press, if contract agreements fail, the union is considering smaller-scale, targeted strikes against major Detroit automakers.
This plan was discreetly shared with local union leaders during a recent meeting, AP sources said. The impact of these strikes on assembly line production remains uncertain. The number of participating workers went undisclosed as well.
Opting for strikes at individual plants and factories may be more cost-effective for the UAW. As it stands, they would need to allocate $500 per week to each of their 146,000 members if they decided to strike General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford. Such a move could deplete the union’s $825 million strike fund in less than three months.
While both the union and the automakers express a willingness to negotiate, progress is sluggish. UAW President Shawn Fain has publicly dismissed the companies’ counter-offers. Allegations of delayed wage and benefit proposals are lingering in the negotiations.
Still, a glimmer of hope remains on both sides. On Tuesday evening, Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, called the automaker’s latest offer “our most generous offer in 80 years of the UAW and Ford.”
In contrast, General Motors put forth their counter-proposal—a 16% wage increase for top earners and a 56% pay raise for new hires with lower wages. UAW President Shawn Fain condemned this proposal as “insulting.”
Stellantis’ most recent offer presented raises totaling 14.5% over four years, excluding lump sum wage payments. Again, UAW leaders were not impressed. All three automakers included alternative benefits to address inflation concerns.
