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Union negotiators and representatives of General Motors, Ford
and Stellantis were set to resume talks on Monday, seeking to
end one of the most ambitious U.S. industrial labor actions in
decades that has seen the union strike all three automakers
simultaneously for the first time.
The coordinated strike comes at a time when Americans' approval
of labor unions is at its highest point in decades even as
membership in unions remains largely unchanged.
About 12,700 UAW workers are on strike as part of a coordinated
labor action targeting three U.S. assembly plants - one at each
of the Detroit Three automakers after the prior four-year labor
agreements expired. Analysts and industry executives question
how long it will be before the UAW strikes at additional plants
in a move to raise pressure on the companies.
UAW President Shawn Fain said Sunday that progress in the talks
has been slow, and that the union was prepared to do what was
necessary when asked whether the union would extend the strike
at the three automakers to additional plants this week.
The strikes have halted production at three plants in Michigan,
Ohio and Missouri that produce the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler
and Chevrolet Colorado, along with other popular models.
Analysts expect plants that build more profitable pickup trucks
like Ford's F-150, GM's Chevy Silverado and Stellantis's Ram to
be the next strike targets if the walkout continues.
The three automakers have proposed 20% raises over the
four-and-a-half year term of their proposed deals, though that
is only half of what the UAW is demanding through 2027.
Besides higher wages, the UAW is also demanding shorter work
weeks, restoration of defined benefit pensions and stronger job
security as automakers make the shift to electric vehicles.
(Reporting by David Shepardson and Ben Klayman, Editing by Deepa
Babington)
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