- after five weeks, the strike by nearly 50,000 united auto workers employees against general motors appears to be over.
- the vote officially ended at 4:00 p.m. friday, and workers could be back on the job as soon as saturday.
- automotive news estimates that the new deal was approved by 56 percent of line workers and 66 percent of those in skilled-trades jobs, based on 93 percent of the vote already in.
the nationwide strike against general motors is over, and united auto workers members get a new four-year contract that will start with an $11,000 ratification bonus for full-time employees (and $4500 for temporary workers), provide a quicker path to full-time jobs for temporary employees, and hold the line on health-care costs.
in a contract summary distributed to hourly workers, the uaw said, "collective bargaining is never easy . . . but your sacrifices reminded general motors of the power and might of solidarity." the union, quoted by the detroit free press, said 23,389 members voted for and 17,501 voted against the proposed contract. the strike had continued during the voting period.
general motors was said to be losing up to $450 million a week as plants were idled and production stopped. in total, the strike is believed to have cost gm more than $2 billion. under the newly ratified agreement, it is confirmed that gm will shut down the lordstown, ohio, assembly plant, where the chevrolet cruze was built until earlier this year. the free press noted that a majority at the union local representing lordstown, local 1112, voted against the new contract. transmission plants in baltimore and warren, michigan, already closed, will remain so.
another plant in contention, the detroit-hamtramck assembly facility, will get electric vehicle production and a $3 billion investment, while gm's warren tech center and lansing delta plants and spring hill, tennessee, facility will all get gm investments and added jobs.
among the new products affected by the strike was the 2020 chevrolet corvette, when the bowling green, kentucky, corvette plant could not complete 2019 corvette production and retool on schedule. the 2020 chevrolet blazer's production in ramos arizpe, mexico, was also halted by the strike because of a shortage of parts.
gm workers are expected back on the job as soon as tomorrow.
the next move by the united auto workers will be to negotiate terms with ford. the reuters news service reported thursday, citing "sources briefed on the matter," that the uaw and ford are expected to meet on monday.