The United Auto Workers union has started a nationwide strike against General Motors (GM) on Monday, September 16, with approximately 46,000 members participating in the walkout.
The decision of the auto workers' union to conduct a strike at General Motors was made after the manufacturer's four-year contract with workers expired without a new agreement in place. According to an AUW tweet, local union leaders held a meeting in Detroit, Michigan "and opted to strike at midnight on Sunday."
Terry Dittes, the union's lead negotiator with GM, explained "This is our last resort. We are standing up for the fundamental rights of working people in this country." According to AUW officials, there have been disagreements between the two parties in terms of wages, health care benefits, the status of temporary workers and job security.
ed Krumm, chair of the UAW's national bargaining committee, stated "Our members have spoken; we have taken action; and this is a decision we did not make lightly. We are standing up for what is right."
GM released a statement saying it was disappointed with the AUW leadership's decision to call the strike after presenting a "strong offer" in contract negotiations. The statement claimed "We have negotiated in good faith and with a sense of urgency. Our goal remains to build a strong future for our employees and our business."
According to GM's management, the offer involved GM making $7 billion in investments that would save or protect 5,400 union jobs and address the issue of the two "unallocated" plants in Michigan and Ohio.
Hours prior to the strike, US President Donald Trump tweeted "Here we go again with General Motors and the United Auto Workers. Get together and make a deal!"
Wall Street Journal described the walkout as the first major stoppage at GM in over a decade. The last major strike at GM was held in 2007 when 73,000 employees at over 89 facilities walked off the job for two days.
