Members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) nearly unanimously authorized a strike against Ford, General Motors (GM), and Stellantis. The vote received a 97% approval from over 150,000 union members. One of the most extreme union demands is full pay for a 32-hour work week, which would result in a 46% wage increase over the contract. Ford is offering 9% over the contract term with a cash payment equaling a 15% wage increase. Needless to say, the parties are far apart. The UAW is threatening to call a strike if the contract isn’t signed when the contracts are set to expire on September 14th, 2023.
This vote comes on the heels of UPS narrowly avoiding a strike by reaching a deal at the last minute. This summer, termed “hot strike summer,” has seen an upswing in strikes. A common theme is workers deserve a bigger share of the pie – not just the CEOs! This recent UAW vote reinforces the fact that employee sentiment in the US is shifting in one direction—pro union.
Brody and Associates regularly advises its clients on all labor management issues, including union-related matters, and provides union-free training. If we can be of assistance in this area, please contact us at info@brodyandassociates.com or 203.454.0560.
