The American auto industry union UAW reached a provisional agreement with car manufacturer Stellantis on Saturday after a 44-day strike. The impasse at Ford also came to an end last Thursday. At General Motors, the only one of the three major manufacturers still holding out, the weeks-long strike is being extended.
The UAW (United Auto Workers) union has been on strike since mid-September in factories and distribution centers of the three major car manufacturers: General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, parent company of Chrysler and Jeep, among others. UAW leader Shawn Fain took an aggressive approach, and with success: Ford this week tentatively agreed to a 25 percent wage increase over the next 4.5 years. The starting salary will also increase by 68 percent.
Pressure increased
To get Stellantis and General Motors to agree, the UAW increased the pressure this week by laying off almost 12,000 more employees. At least that worked for Stellantis. The parties also agreed to a similar deal there. The association’s members still have to vote on the agreement. In the meantime, the staff will return to work.
President Joe Biden, who supports the union’s demands, said he is satisfied with the agreement. “I congratulate the UAW and Stellantis on reaching a historic agreement after significant negotiations that guarantees workers the wages, benefits, dignity and respect they deserve,” he said in a statement.
At GM, employees are now increasing the pressure by laying off work at an additional assembly plant in the state of Tennessee. “We are disappointed in GM’s unnecessary and irresponsible refusal to reach a fair agreement,” UAW President Fain said in a statement. GM Chairman Mary Barra has said that the latter mainly wants to put herself in the spotlight with the action.
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