The auto worker strike is expanding by 7,000 workers at Ford and General Motors plants in Chicago and Lansing, Michigan, as the negotiations between the United Auto Workers and General Motors, Ford and Stellantis stretch on, UAW president Shawn Fain announced
The expansion this week brings the total number of strikers to more than 25,000 workers across the country. Fain said in the video that the strike will not expand to automaker Stellantis this week, because that company made 鈥渟ignificant progress鈥� on terms of the contract such as cost-of-living allowances. He said other efforts have been going 鈥渘ight and day,鈥� to negotiate contracts that include 36% wage increases over four years. GM has proposed a 20% increase.
鈥淭o be clear, negotiations haven鈥檛 broken down,鈥� Fain said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e still talking to all three companies. And I鈥檓 still very hopeful that we can reach a deal that reflects the incredible sacrifices and contributions our members have made in the last decade.鈥�
The strike has been slowly expanding since Sept. 15 as part of a tactic to increase pressure on automakers to reach a contract. Assembly plants in Wentzville, Missouri; Toledo, Ohio; and in Wayne, Michigan, were the first to pick up picket signs. The more than 5,000 workers at Arlington鈥檚Last week, the strike expanded to parts distribution centers, including
In a statement to employees Sept. 28, Gerald Johnson, GM鈥檚 executive vice president of global manufacturing and sustainability, said striking does more harm than good.
鈥淭he number of people negatively impacted by these strikes is growing and includes our customers who buy and love the products we build,鈥� Johnson wrote. 鈥淔or our part, we continue to stand ready and willing to negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement that benefits you and doesn鈥檛 let the nonunion manufacturers win.鈥�
Anderson Economic Group, a Michigan-based economic consulting firm, estimated that the first week of the strike resulted Economists told the Fort Worth Report that consumers won鈥檛 feel the immediate effects of the strike
Seth Bodine is a business and economic development reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at seth.bodine@fortworthreport.org and follow on Twitter .
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