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UAW extends strike to key General Motors plant in Texas
https://www.whatjobs.com/news/usa/us-employment-news/uaw-extends-strike-to-key-general-motors-plant-in-texas
By Nithya Bose in US business news, posted October 25, 2023
The United Auto Workers union has expanded its strike against General Motors to a lucrative full-size SUV plant in Texas.
It’s in response to the automaker’s robust earnings and record third-quarter revenue.
The escalation of the strike on Tuesday, October 24, includes approximately 5,000 workers at GM's Arlington Assembly plant.
Read More: Ford Executive Chair Pleads To End The UAW Strike
This facility makes popular SUV models like the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, and Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban.
The strike extension came mere hours after GM released its third-quarter earnings results, surpassing the expectations of Wall Street.
UAW President Shawn Fain said: “Another record quarter, another record year.
As we’ve said for months: record profits equal record contracts.
“It’s time GM workers, and the whole working class, get their fair share.”
GM did report a drop in profits for the third quarter.
Read More: Ford Can’t Improve Its Contract Offer To UAW As It’s “At The Limit”
$800 million loss during strikes
GM's quarterly update showed it has already incurred losses of $800 million in production due to the UAW strike.
It excludes the impact of the Arlington plant disruption, which accounts for an additional $200 million during the third quarter.
GM said it was “disappointed by the escalation of this unnecessary and irresponsible strike.”
The company said: “It is harming our team members who are sacrificing their livelihoods and having negative ripple effects on our dealers, suppliers, and the communities that rely on us.”
Read More: UAW Launches Strike At Ford’s Largest Plant In Kentucky
GM later added it’s “time for us to finish this process.”
The strike has now affected more than 45,000 UAW members at Detroit automakers.
It's equivalent to roughly 31 percent of union members covered by expired contracts.
According to the firms, an additional 7,000 workers, around five percent of the workforce, have been laid off due to the ripple effects of the strikes.
The strike began on September 15 with walkouts at Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio assembly plants.
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Since then, it has expanded to include eight assembly plants and 38 parts distribution centers across 22 states.
The strike at the Arlington plant follows a recent action by the UAW against a key Stellantis facility in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
Similarly, the union organized a walkout at a Kentucky truck plant.
The plant generated approximately $25 billion in annual revenue for Ford Motor.
These unannounced walkouts at profitable facilities signify what UAW President Fain has described as a "new phase" of bargaining with Detroit majors.
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On October 6, Fain said UAW planned to walk off at GM's Arlington plant.
However, he said discussions on including workers from GM's joint-venture battery cell plants in the master agreement appeared to have stalled.
GM's CEO, Mary Barra, indicated that negotiations for battery plant workers were still open.
But she said the current focus is for workers at the joint venture, Ultium, to negotiate their deal with the union.
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