US auto union halts work at Stellantis plant, expanding strike

US auto union halts work at Stellantis plant, expanding strike

The United Auto Workers expanded a strike to Stellantis' Sterling Heights, Michigan factory, where employees greeted UAW President Shawn Fain in July at the outset of auto contract talks
The United Auto Workers expanded a strike to Stellantis' Sterling Heights, Michigan factory, where employees greeted UAW President Shawn Fain in July at the outset of auto contract talks. Photo: BILL PUGLIANO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP/File
Source: AFP

The US auto workers union halted work at a giant Stellantis truck plant on Monday, expanding a five-week strike hitting Detroit automakers.

The United Auto Workers action means that 6,800 workers walked off the job in Sterling Heights, Michigan, where the European auto giant assembles the highly profitable Ram 1500 pickup trucks.

On Friday, UAW President Shawn Fain reported progress in talks with Stellantis, but said further concessions were possible and necessary for a deal that would end the stoppage.

Following the announcement, officials with the Sterling Heights UAW on Monday were at work on strike logistics, including to enable employees to sign up for strike pay.

The strike plan calls for about 500 workers at plant gates each day for assigned strike shifts, said Michael Spencer, vice president of UAW Local 1700.

"This is in support of us getting a fair and equitable contract," Spencer told AFP in a phone interview.

Read also

Vietnam's VinFast struggles to sell electric cars at home

"They're moving in the right direction, but they haven't gotten there yet. It's time for them to get serious at the negotiating table."

The union on September 15 ordered a strike of Stellantis and fellow "Big Three" automakers General Motors and Ford with a stoppage of just three plants with about 12,700 UAW members.

But as automakers have improved their offers of pay increases and benefits, the union has kept up the pressure by expanding the strike to additional factories.

Automakers have countered by arguing that the strike risks doing lasting damage to a fragile supply chain and asserting that further concessions risks future investments needed for the transition to electric vehicles.

'Record' contracts not enough

With Monday's action, the number of UAW workers on strike now stands at more than 40,000, according to a UAW press release.

Read also

US tightens curbs on AI chip exports to China

"Despite having the highest revenue, the highest profits (North American and global), the highest profit margins, and the most cash in reserve, Stellantis lags behind both Ford and General Motors in addressing the demands of their UAW workforce," the UAW said.

"Currently, Stellantis has the worst proposal on the table regarding wage progression, temporary worker pay and conversion to full-time, cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), and more."

The action at Sterling Heights comes on the heels of a similar sudden walkout at Ford's giant Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville.

In Friday's briefing, Fain reported "serious movement" from the companies, with both GM and Stellantis producing new offers within the prior 24 hours.

Fain suggested that the parties were potentially close to a deal -- but only if the companies give more.

Fain said he agrees with the companies' characterization of their offers -- which currently amount to 23 percent wage hikes -- as "record contracts."

Read also

Police detain Greta Thunberg at London climate protest

But "they come at the end of decades of record decline," he said.

"So it's not enough to be the best-ever, when autoworkers have gone backwards over the last two decades. That's a very low bar," said Fain, adding that "these extremely profitable companies have more to give."

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.