U.S. autoworkers strike at Stellantis plant shutting down big profit centre, 41,000 workers now picketing
CTV
The United Auto Workers union has once again escalated its strikes against big Detroit automakers, this time adding a factory that makes Ram pickup trucks for Stellantis.
The United Auto Workers union has once again escalated its strikes against big Detroit automakers, this time adding a factory that makes Ram pickup trucks for Stellantis.
The union says that 6,800 members walked out Monday morning and shut down the Sterling Heights, Mich., Assembly Plant, a huge profit centre for the company.
The newest strike action comes just three days after union president Shawn Fain reported progress in talks with General Motors and Stellantis but said the companies will have to make better offers. No progress was reported with Ford, which last week said it had the best offer of the three.
The union went on strike Sept. 15 at one assembly plant from each company. About 41,000 workers are now on strike against all three automakers. The strikes, now in their sixth week, cover seven assembly plants and 38 parts warehouses. About 28 per cent of the union's workforce at the three companies are now on strike.
General Motors, which increased its offer last week, and Ford were spared in the latest escalation. At first the union avoided striking at pickup and large SUV plants, which at all three produce vehicles that make the most money for the companies. But that changed two weeks ago when the UAW took out a giant Ford heavy-duty pickup and SUV plant in Louisville, Ky.
In previous strikes the union has targeted a particular company and reached an agreement that served as a pattern for a deal with the other two.
In a statement, the union said that offers from Stellantis, formed in the 2021 merger of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA Groupe, lag Ford and GM despite the automaker having the most revenue and highest profits of the three.
