At noon on September 22, 2023, UAW President Shawn Fain, along with members and workers at Mopar Parts Center Line, the Stellantis parts distribution center in Center Line, Michigan, picketed outside the facility after hours.
Matthew Hatcher | AFP | Getty Images
DETROIT — A year after the United Auto Workers launched an unprecedented strike against Detroit automakers, the union is again threatening a work stoppage that could disrupt the U.S. auto industry.
UAW announces strike deadline Wednesday Ford Motor Company The plant, which supports the automaker’s Rouge Complex near Detroit, is one of two U.S. plants producing the company’s lucrative F-150 pickup truck.
The 11:59 pm strike deadline on September 25 comes a day after UAW President Shawn Fain announced plans to hold a strike authorization vote at one or more local unions. Strantis American factory
Both statements were warnings to Ford and Strantis, focusing on union contracts and local issues at the plant. The union has yet to announce similar action against General Motors.
UAW members are protected by national agreements that cover issues such as wages, bonuses and other benefits, as well as local contracts that are tailored to each facility.
Historically, local contracts have taken months or even years to resolve after a national agreement has been reached. sometimes They didn’t solve it at all During the period of the national agreement.
Last year’s autoworker strike came amid historic negotiations for a national contract with Detroit’s Big Three automakers. The union won record wage increases – a 25% increase over the life of the deal – and the reinstatement of cost-of-living adjustments, but labor experts said it could come at the expense of jobs.
The deadline for Ford’s latest strike was reportedly due to negotiations at local factories involving “job security, wage equality in skilled trades and work rules.” to the union.
Strikes at supporting facilities at assembly plants could affect vehicle assembly if automakers are unable to make contingency plans for parts. The plant employs fewer than 500 workers.
Ford said in a statement Thursday that talks with the union are ongoing: “Ford invested $15 million in the plant last year and we have been negotiating to resolve issues. Negotiations continue and we look forward to reaching an agreement with UAW Local 600 in Dearborn Tool and Die.
The strike deadline has heightened tensions there further than at Stellantis, where the union has announced an authorization vote. The strike authorization vote is procedural. These were worker votes authorizing UAW leaders to call a strike if necessary. Such votes in national contract negotiations typically receive more than 90% worker support.
Stellantis’ announcement of the vote follows months of vilification by Fain against Stellantis and its CEO, Carlos Tavares, following product cuts, layoffs and other actions the union said were detrimental to union workers, including Possible move of production of vehicles such as Dodge Durango out of U.S.
The union filed an unfair labor practice claim against Stellantis with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday, claiming the automaker refused to “provide the union with relevant information about investments and products.”
“The company wants you to be scared, but we have 100 per cent the right and authority to take industrial action if necessary,” Fearn said in an online broadcast on Tuesday night.
Strantis claimed that such a strike was illegal.
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares speaks to the media after an investor day at the company’s North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, June 13, 2024.
Michael Weiland/CNBC
Fein has maintained that unions have won the right to strike over carmakers’ product and investment commitments during national negotiations. However, there is still language in the contract regarding market conditions, economics and other factors that may grant leniency to the company.
The company criticized the actions and comments of union leaders Tuesday night after Fein announced the strike authorization vote.
“Sean Fein continues to claim that the company is in breach of contract, but has so far provided no data or information to support his claims. Instead, he continues to deliberately damage the company’s reputation through public attacks, which helps no one. This includes his members,” the company said in an emailed statement.
Strantis said the strike “won’t benefit anyone — our customers, our dealers, the community and most importantly, our employees.”
In addition to the NLRB complaint filed against the company on Monday, 28 Stellantis locals have filed complaints against the automaker, Fain said. The complaints cover about 98 percent of Stellantis’ UAW-represented employees, according to the union.
“Once we authorize a strike locally, we meet with the company seven times to either resolve the issues or take industrial action as the union sees fit,” Fearn said.
As of the beginning of this year, Stellantis employed about 43,000 union-represented workers.
The union also began contract talks with Volkswagen this week. Earlier this year, Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, voted overwhelmingly for UAW representation.
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