The United Auto Workers said Friday that General Motors Co. had agreed to put new electric vehicle battery plants under the union’s national contract.
Union president Shawn Fain said the Detroit-based union had been ready to expand its strike against the automaker before GM’s move. Instead, the UAW this week is not adding any more factories to the strike, which first began in mid September. The UAW is striking some plants at GM, Ford Motor Co., and Stellantis, which includes the former Chrysler Corp.
“Our strike is working but we are not done yet,” Fain said on a union livestream. “We are making significant progress.”
The union leader said the UAW almost added Detroit-based GM’s Arlington, Texas, plant to the list of automaker plants being struck. The factory makes models such as the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, and the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade-V.
Fain called the Texas operation GM’s “biggest money maker” and why the union almost added it to the list of factories affected by the walkout.
This year’s labor talks come amid an industry shift to boost output of EVs. That shift will have a major impact on auto manufacturing. From labor’s standpoint, there is concern whether jobs will lost.
With these negotiations, the union also is seeking large pay raises, a return of cost-of-living adjustments, shorter workweeks, added benefits for retirees and an easier path for temporary workers to achieve full-time status. The UAW made concessions in the 2000s, when GM and Chrysler entered bankruptcy.
What’s more, the UAW altered its traditional strategy of selecting one automaker as its bargaining “target” and then trying to extend the basic terms to the other two companies.
This time out, the UAW also is being more transparent, making more public disclosures about proposals with GM, Ford and Stellantis. In turn, the automakers have publicly questioned the sincerity of UAW negotiators.
Fain, meanwhile, continued to maintain tough talk. During today’s livestream, Fain wore a T-shirt with the words, “Eat the Rich.”
“Our goal has always been to win a record contract,” Fain said. “The CEOs are trying to trivialize our strikes. It’s not about theatrics. It’s about power.”
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