According to UAW President Shawn Fain “Squawk Box,” the Detroit automakers will be the target of a strike if no labor agreements are reached by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. ET.
- ESSENTIAL POINTS
- According to UAW President Shawn Fain, if labor agreements aren’t reached by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. ET, the United Auto Workers union would go on strike against the Detroit automakers.
- Fain’s remarks came the day after he explained to local union officials his preparations for conducting targeted plant strikes in the event that agreements couldn’t be reached.
- Fain stated on Wednesday that the union is still pushing for double-digit pay hikes.
Fain’s remarks were made the next morning, the day after he gave local union officials an overview of his intentions for initiating targeted strikes at certain General Motors, Ford Motor, and Stellantis facilities if agreements aren’t reached by Thursday. When asked whether Ford is the less likely to be struck, Fain said LeBeau on Wednesday, “As it stands right now, all three are most likely to be struck unless we get a deal by Sept. 14 at midnight.” “All three are expected to deliver for their workers, and if they don’t, there will be action.”
Targeted strikes are work halts that only occur at certain plants as a result of local contract problems that many, if not all, facilities experience. In contrast to nationwide strikes, which force all union members to leave their workplaces. Fain stated on Wednesday that the union is still pushing for double-digit pay hikes. Most recently, the UAW requested 36% raises, down from original requests of 40%. According to him, the union’s requests for raises from the automakers have not decreased below 30%.
The union’s main demands have included, among other things on the table, a reduction in the number of hours worked per week to 32, a return to conventional pensions, the abolition of pay levels, and a reinstatement of cost-of-living adjustments.
Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford, stated late on Tuesday that the firm is still “optimistic that we can reach an agreement with the UAW in the next two days.” He said that Ford’s willingness to provide has certain restrictions nevertheless. According to Farley, the most recent offer from the corporation includes “pay increases, elimination of tiers, inflation protection, five weeks of vacation, 17 paid holidays, [and] bigger contributions for retirement.”
During the 2024 Ford F-150’s Detroit unveiling, Farley declared, “We put an offer in today that’s our most generous offer in 80 years of the UAW and Ford.” “It’s a huge improvement, and I remain hopeful that we’ll reach an agreement. However, there is a limit since we need to safeguard our investments in the future, which are financed by the business’s success. Ford, according to Farley, “not going to support” a four-day workweek.
Fain statement on UAW
Fain said on Wednesday that the union is still looking for double-digit salary growth. The UAW just requested 36% raises, down from initial demands of 40%. According to him, the union’s requests for raises from the automakers have never been less than 30%.
The union’s main demands have included, among other things on the table, a 40% hourly wage rise, a reduced 32-hour work week, a return to traditional pensions, the abolition of pay levels, and a restoration of cost-of-living adjustments. But he said that Ford is only willing to provide so much. The company’s most recent offer, according to Farley, includes “pay increases, elimination of tiers, inflation protection, five weeks of vacation, 17 paid holidays, [and] larger contributions for retirement.”
At the 2024 Ford F-150’s Detroit unveiling, Farley said, “We put an offer in today that’s our most generous offer in 80 years of the UAW and Ford.” “It’s a huge improvement, and I remain hopeful that we’ll reach an agreement. However, there is a limit since we need to safeguard our investments in the future, which are financed by the business’s success. Ford “not going to support” a four-day workweek, according to Farley.
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