Back in June 2023, GMÂ Authority reported that a number of UAW members at the Clarios battery plant in Ohio – who produce 12-volt batteries for vehicles manufactured by Detroit-based automakers GM and Ford – were on strike. Now, roughly a month later, no resolution has been found.
According to a report from Automotive News, neither side wants to budge as negotiations continue to stall. For reference, approximately 400 workers have been on strike as of May 8th, 2023 following a contract proposal that was shot down. Meanwhile, the Ohio plant employs roughly 650 employees in total, and produces up to 150,000 batteries a week.
“While we have been in contact with the UAW this week, we have not yet agreed to next steps,” Clarios director of communications Kris Sherman was quoted as saying. “During the past month, we’ve negotiated in good faith and reached two reasonable tentative agreements that increased wages, accelerated progression to top pay, and increased work life balance for employees and their families. The second tentative agreement, which was fully endorsed by the UAW, was also voted down.”
Both the UAW and the Big Three – which includes General Motors, Ford and Stellantis – have been watching this strike closely, as it could dictate where UAW negotiations land later this year. As context, current UAW contracts are set to expire in September 2023, while the labor union points to high profits and executive compensations as justification for increased demands.
Judging from this extended period of strike – as well as recent comments from UAW Vice President Mike Booth – it’s widely expected that negotiations will be hotly debated as the UAW fights for increased benefits and wages, while the Big Three hope to keep costs down during the transition to electric lineup.
It’s worth noting that UAW leaders have threatened strikes in an attempt to maintain leverage.
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Comments
I think the big 3 will make moderate concessions to the UAW to avoid strikes in this pivotal year followed by significantly increased investment in Mexico where autoworkers are about 6x less. This will ultimately lead to reduced UAW US/Canada based factories and workers while transplant and Tesla factories/workers will continue to outpace the big 3 in the US.
Moderate concessions will not avoid a strike. Strike is almost unavoidable. Fain will be seen as a failure by the rank and file UAW if there is no strike.
Good luck, a strike is not the answer.
Clarios is not bargaining in good faith. They’re generous contract offer was only 3% raise each year for 3 years. This was after already cutting the employees pay twice in the past year by 15%. These employees who are striking are fighting for a living wage. They work in a dangerous environment so they should be paid a decent living wage! Especially the way everything in our economy is going up!
In 2019 GM was the strike target and it sustained a long strike. Who will the union pick as the strike target this year?
By the way, if you do your reading you will discover that the UAW is seriously preparing for the fight. Their fund to pay strikers while they are out has increased massively and they say in 2019 if you were on strike the union would pay strike benefits of $250 a week to striking members. Supposedly in 2023 they will be able to pay $500 per week to striking workers. I am not a member so I won’t be able to hoist a sign, walk around and get $500 per week.
You’re welcome to come out and show your support at anytime though!
Unemployed Auto Workers. Courtesy of the corrupt pondscum at the top of the UAW.
It true we shot it down for the reason they want us to work 12 hour days at straight time, and with the raise increase that they gave us does not equal out to the pay cuts that we have taken just this year alone, which is the equivalent of 8 to 15 dollars an hour we need to get our pay that they took away and then we will discuss the pay increase every year and now they have scab labor making these batteries that have no clue on what they are doing. I hope the big three understands the batteries that they are receiving are scab batteries.
Do you know if the battery plant in Brownstown Mich will fall under the new negotiation?
My boyfriend works at a Clarios plant in Delaware filling these batteries. He has been laid off because of this strike
Does anyone know if this bargain agreement will affect the battery plant in Brownstown? Meaning whatever new terms are agreed upon?
A preview of things to come.
Fain has the membership so amped up nothing short of hitting the lottery will be ratified by the workers.
In the long term, it’ll simply mean a major reduction of US based auto jobs.
Well I work for Ultium Cells on our short week you try living off 400.00 a week after taxes !!😟