As we’ve covered all week, the UAW has called for a nationwide GM strike, the first company-wide strike in more than a decade. However, according to the vice president of the UAW’s General Motors Department, Terry Dittes, the strike may have been avoided entirely had General Motors provided a “serious” deal offer more than a few hours prior to the expiration of the previous labor contract.
In a letter to union members on Sunday, Dittes wrote:
“We are disappointed that the company waited until just two hours before the contract expired to make what we regard as its first serious offer. Had we received this proposal earlier in the process, it may have been possible to reach a tentative agreement and avoid a strike.”
The previous labor contract between the UAW and GM expired at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday. The UAW ended up rejecting the proposal, and declared that the GM strike would go into effect Sunday night.
General Motors issued a statement on Sunday in response to the UAW’s call for a GM strike, saying:
“We presented a strong offer that improves wages, benefits and grows U.S. jobs in substantive ways, and it is disappointing that the UAW leadership has chosen to strike at midnight tonight. 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.”
As we covered previously, the UAW is seeking a number of things at the negotiating table, including wage increases, health care benefits, job security, profit sharing, and a way forward for temporary workers to find permanent positions.
“We are willing to meet as frequently, and for as long as it takes, to reach an agreement that treats our members fairly,” Dittes said in the UAW letter.
It remains to be seen whether or not the two groups will piece together a deal in a timely manner. Early reports indicated a contentious negotiation process, although more recent reports point to slow progress.
Meanwhile, the GM strike continues.
We’ll continue to cover this story as it progresses. For now, make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more UAW news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Comments
AND… the strike could have been avoided if the union had accepted GM’s really good offer. FYI in order for anyone to GET union benefits, they MUST join the picket lines. Also the union wants temps to be made permanent and then have their salaries increased to levels more Sr employees have… WHY would GM agree to that? How can any company “guarantee” employment?
GM will continue to move jobs out of the US as a result of this extortion play. AND if it weren’t for Trump pushing China on trade GM would probably be importing from China already… these employees really ought to get back to work… this is a global economy and if you can build a car in Eastern Europe and ship it to the US and make more than you can if you build it in the US… duh?
Exactly xjug. If the union wants to make a difference, they should be focused on unionizing workers in other countries, instead of driving costs up for manufacturers here in the States. Unions are a big reason companies ship jobs abroad
One of the biggest lies I’ve heard is that supporting unions correlates with supporting the American worker.
It’s complete BS.
It’s almost as bad as saying that if you don’t cater to the demands of a teacher’s union that you don’t support education. I support education – that’s why I am against the organization that fights against accountability and innovation in the classroom every chance they can. They do not have the best interest of the child or the parents at heart.
I want to increase the opportunity for people who work in the manufacturing and distribution sector in the US. That’s why I hate the UAW. If they had their way, companies would shut down even more factories in the US and outsource production.
Right now the Union is trying to present a reason they are needed or exist.
In the end they will cost employees more job security and money. The longer the strike goes on the more the employees will risk never earning back lost wages.
The union leaders all are set for life even if they are not involved in the corruption case going on. They will try to posture like they are leaders and con workers into their brain washed ways then slip off to retire with their fortunes.
The URW did that leaving many union members hurting as their leaders lived out lucrative retirements when the union failed and had to merge with the steel workers.
A strike could have been avoided if the UAW took the deal that was offered.
These labor leaders are fighting for relevancy here – they want to appear tough and bring up labor costs to unsustainable pre-recession levels.
UAW leaders are a disaster for their own members long term and for General Motors. The UAW is the biggest mistake that company has ever made.
UAW and GM are the ones responsible for wasting valuable tax payer dollars. Had the a bailout not happened in 2009, Americans would finally understand why unions fail, and find out ways to make them smaller, better managed, and more effective. Each GM plant needs its own union to represent its workers. Workers in Detroit and Texas have vastly different beliefs on how they deserve to get compensated for getting work done, and the union should clearly incorporate that. We can’t treat workers in the blue north and red south the same way.
It is obvious many here have no clue of the negotiation process with collective bargainging. The first offer on either side us NEVER accepted no matter how good it appears. When buying a house or car would you pay the asking price without even making a counter offer?
“When buying a house or car would you pay the asking price without even making a counter offer?”
Not comparable. Cars are mass produced and have identical, interchangeable parts. A flat price market wide is preferable to consumers and leaves no reason to hunt and dig for better prices, and at least here, it’s legal to sell a car without the dealership model.
As for housing, the variables in houses can work as arguments for the buyer and against them. They are all taxed differently. Some qualify for municipal services, while others do not. Construction is a open ended argument, and lets not forget about the neighbourhood.
You could have made stronger argument if you didn’t include cars from the get go.
Why are union workers mostly fat?
There seems to be more than meets the eye or the written word.
“Just over one year after GM Korea was saved from bankruptcy, it appears the local auto union is prepared to go on strike.
Business Korea reported Wednesday the labor union has already submitted a petition for dispute settlement to the Central Labor Relations Commission. The filing indicates the union is preparing to strike, though, it’s an odd move considering the collective bargaining process hasn’t begun yet.”
Read more: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/06/ahead-of-collective-bargaining-gm-korea-already-plans-strike/#ixzz6008OkLnH
Everybody always want more, and they are the first ones to complain a plant is shuttered because to produce a car competitively in pricing is not possible since the market will only pay so much. More cost, more expensive cars! BUT, what business model does Toyota, Honda and others use to make a profit from their US plants?
Man, what a bunch of haters .. eww
I ❤️ My Union
The UAW leadership has been trying to negotiate since March. A contract was sent to GM in July. But GM DID NOT respond until an hour or two before the 2015 contract expired. Guys, they are playing poker and the UAW called their bluff. What the UAW is saying is that if they responded in August on the July proposal – they may have been able to hash out a tentative agreement before the 2015 contract expired. If anyone thinks a coupe of hours is enough time to review an offer, negotiate, vote and then ratify, well I want to see you in a poker room.
BTW – Pablo…. name calling is the last resort of someone with a bad position.
Regards