As we reported previously, the ongoing GM strike resulted in temporary layoffs for more than a thousand workers in Canada last week, and has affected workers at GM supplier companies as well. Now, with the walkout stretching further into its second week, additional furloughs have been enacted across North America.
According to recent reports, GM informed an additional 1,200 workers in the U.S. and Canada about temporarily layoffs on Monday as a result of the UAW’s GM strike. That includes 525 hourly employees at the jointly operated Duramax Engine Plant in Moraine, Ohio, and 700 workers at the St. Catharines Plant powertrain facility in Ontario.
This latest round of layoffs is on top of an estimated 4,500 furloughs handed down to GM employees and suppliers as of last Friday, according to the president of the Canadian trade union Unifor.
All told, the total number of GM strike layoffs is estimated at roughly 3,725 GM workers and 2,000 supplier employees. As CNBC indicates, the actual number could be much higher, given the difficulty in tracking employment at GM’s many suppliers.
According to the recent CNBC report, Magna International, an Ontario-based GM supplier, has confirmed that roughly half of its North American divisions have “started to experience sporadic layoffs” as a result of the GM strike.
This is the UAW’s first national strike against GM since 2007, and as it stretches into the second week, it has now become the longest national strike since the ‘70s.
Meanwhile, talks between the UAW and GM continue, with both sides working to hammer together a new labor agreement following the expiration of the previous contract September 14th.
Both sides are digging in for the long haul, with GM pulling health insurance for workers and securing a restraining order against unruly picketers in Tennessee.
The GM strike is currently ongoing at various GM facilities around the nation, with some analysts speculating that it could cost the automaker upwards of $100 million a day.
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Comments
With no real reason to strike in the first place, I’m actually surprised this has gone on so long.
Though it would probably mean I, and others with new Corvettes on order would have to wait allot longer to get our vehicles, I’d fire each and every one of these Strikers & start over & train new ones. Also, they could perhaps hire back “some” experienced Key workers at NON UNION reduced salaries & Benefits.
GM inventory on hand at the start of the strike was what, 77 days? Likely the inventory target is normally around 60 days, but with the economic headwinds, 50 would be ideal. Look for this to last at least 25 days.
It is not costing GM a dime, they are saving money.
When GM customers run out of parts at the dealerships and they have to wait longer for car repairs the pressure and GM’s public rep will suffer, not to mention parts suppliers and others out of work not spending and local economies tanking.
Which will happen much sooner.
Children! Stop pulling each other’s hair and shooting spitballs at one another, now get back to work, you’re ruining class for everyone!
Reasonable adults should be able to come to an agreement by the predetermined deadline. These people should be fired for letting this happen and then some “grownups” should be hired to replace them right away, it’s costing us all a fortune!