© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Striking UAW workers picket outside a Stellantis facility in Center Line, Michigan, U.S., September 22, 2023. REUTERS/Dieu-Nalio Chery/File Photo
(Reuters) – United Auto Workers (UAW) on Wednesday shut down Ford (NYSE:)’s biggest and most profitable plant with little warning, a sharp escalation of the union’s four-week targeted strike against the Detroit Three automakers.
The Kentucky walkout on Wednesday is also a warning to General Motors (NYSE:) and Chrysler parent Stellantis (NYSE:), whose wage and benefits offers fall short of Ford’s.
Before this announcement, the union had ordered walkouts at five assembly plants.
Here is a look at the top talking points, and how negotiations have progressed since the strike began, according to UAW President Shawn Fain and the companies:
Ford General Motors Stellantis
Wages Top offer of Offered about 21.4% hike.
23% hike. 20% increase.
Wage Cut timeline Cut timeline Cut timeline
progression to get to top to get to top to get to top
wage rate to wage rate to wage rate to
three years four years. four years.
from eight.
Temporary Wages raised Wages Wages raised
workers’ wages to $21/hour. increased to to $20/hour.
$20/hour.
Cost-of-living- Agreed to “GM isn’t far Agreed to
adjustments reinstate behind,” Fain reinstate
cost-of-living said. cost-of-living
allowance. allowance.
Plant closures The UAW can No agreement The UAW can
strike over regarding the strike over
plant issue. plant
shutdowns. shutdowns.
Workers get
income
protection.
Retirement No agreement No agreement No agreement
benefits to restore to restore to restore
pre-2007 pre-2007 pre-2007
defined defined defined
benefit benefit benefit
pension plans. pension plans. pension plans.
Battery Plants No agreement. Agreed to No agreement.
allow workers
at joint
venture
battery plants
to be covered
by union
contracts.
Source: Fain’s statement, company statements
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