Negotiations with the United Auto Workers and Ford, General Motors and Stellantis stretched into the night on Sept. 14 and expired, signaling strikes for workers at three auto plants across the country. More than 5,000 auto workers at the GM assembly plant in Arlington are returning to work under an expired contract, waiting for the signal to start picket lines.
The union and auto manufacturers had until midnight Sept. 14 to negotiate a new contract, but still stand far apart on items such as pay increases. UAW is asking for 40% wage increases 鈥� GM came back with
Meanwhile, UAW president Shawn Fain called on workers at three plants across the country to go on strike, affecting a total of about 13,000 people:
- UAW members at the General Motors assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri.
- UAW members at Stellantis in the Toledo, Ohio, assembly complex.
- UAW members at Ford鈥檚 final assembly and paint team in the Michigan plant.
This is the first time in the union鈥檚 88-year history that it is striking against all three automakers, according
It鈥檚 possible that workers in Arlington could be targeted for a strike. The local union chapter, , has strike assignments and positions in case of being called by Fain to strike.
The assembly plant in Arlington broke a In July, GM to produce future SUVs.
In a , Fain said the strategy of picking selected plants instead of all of them at the same time will keep the companies guessing, and alludes to the possibility of more plants being selected over time.
鈥淚t will give our national negotiators maximum leverage and flexibility in bargaining,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd if we need to go all out, we will.鈥�
UAW cites record profits from GM as justification for the raises. GM executives argue the demands would take too much money and hamper its ability to be competitive. CEO and chair Mary Barra spoke about finding a middleground to remain competitive as a company 鈥淢ake no mistake, if we don鈥檛 continue to invest, we will lose ground. And it will happen fast,鈥� Barra said. 鈥淥ur competition across the country and around the world, most of whom are nonunion, will waste no time seizing the opportunity we鈥檝e handed them.鈥�
The last GM auto worker strike was in 2019 and lasted 40 days.
is a business and economic development reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at seth.bodine@fortworthreport.org and follow on Twitter at .
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy .