General Motors Workers Give Union Leaders Strike Authorization
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General Motors is currently in the process of discussing and sorting out a new contract with the United Auto Workers union. Contract discussions began last month, with the current contract expiring on September 14, 2015.
According to local WYTV from Lordstown, Ohio, home of the Chevrolet Cruze, GM workers have authorized union leaders to call a strike should the need arise.
Members of the Local 1112 and Local 1714 voted over a 24-hour period to authorize a strike, with voting ending this past Friday in favor of authorization.
To be clear, the authorization does not confirm a strike to take place. The authorization only allows a strike to take place should talks stall between GM and the UAW during negotiations.
Recently, the UAW has called out GM’s rumored plans to import the 2016 Buick Envision crossover from China, and criticized leaked production news involving moving nearly all of Buick’s vehicles to Chinese and European production facilities.
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Well its that time in the Union Contract talks that just shows GM that the Union is basically all on the same page . First will be the national talks and then the local talks . The union may settle with GM and still strike if local talks fail . And each manufacturing facility has their own concerns . The leak of GM “possibly” shipping a majority of Buick production overseas is a big deal . Your talking about the elimination of alot of jobs . Is it just a threat on GM’s part , only the GM brass and Union leaders know for sure at this point in negotiations . Lets hope thats all it is .
GM needs to follow the Canadian model of negotiating. The national agreement is not signed until all local agreements are signed. Locals shouldn’t be able to hold out for special deals once the national agreement has been signed.
Well the way it appears to me is the national talks will be the hardball. This is where they will hit with the hot button topics. the tiered pay scale is one area of contention.
Now on the local most plants and local unions are on a pretty good path. GM has let them bid for models and jobs and most plants are happy and making good money. Places like Lordstown used to hold great drama between the Union and GM but no more. They appear to make deals and work well together.
The leverage of more capacity than they need in the states and the threat of China is just a clue to the UAW that work with us and you will be rewarded. If you do not work with us we have options.
I have read that Ford is the company that may be the most targeted in this negotiation.
Still expect tough talk from the UAW management but the workers are learning the new ways and it has paid off for most.
The plan to build affordable Buick in China would go hand in hand with the objective of eliminating or reducing the tiered pay scale. US factories would then build high end car models that would justify higher pay.