2023-10-21 02:05:38
© Reuters. UAW union strikers 10/20/2023 Luke Sharrett/REUTERS
By Joseph White and Ben Klayman
DETROIT (Reuters) – UAW autoworkers union President Shawn Fain warned on Friday of more work stoppages at U.S. truck and SUV makers unless the three Detroit automakers improve wage offers. and benefits, insisting that companies can pay more than the record packages that are on the table.
“These extremely profitable companies have more to offer,” Fain said.
Five weeks into the strike, Fain said the UAW has received new contract offers from General Motors (NYSE:) and Chrysler parent Stellantis (NYSE:) in the past 24 hours. Ford (NYSE:) made its newest offering more than two weeks ago.
Fain confirmed that Detroit’s big three automakers have converged on a 23% pay raise offer and have made progress on other issues. But he told UAW members that “there is still more to be accomplished.” GM and Ford say the additional increases already bring their total compensation offers to more than 30%.
Fain acknowledged that some UAW members want to vote on the offers already presented, but urged them not to give in to the “fear, uncertainty, doubt and division” that he said were sown by the companies.
While warning of possible expanded strikes, Fain also told UAW members that negotiations were coming to an end. “That’s the hardest part of a strike,” he said. “Right before a deal is when there is the most aggressive push for the last mile.”
Shares of GM and Ford closed up about 1% this Friday, before Fain’s speech.
The union began negotiations with a demand for a 40% salary increase. The walkouts began at the three automakers on September 15, and now more than 34,000 union members are staging the UAW’s first simultaneous strikes against the three Detroit automakers.
#Union #pressures #Detroit #automakers #supply #threatens #strikes #Reuters