The United Auto Workers (UAW) has opted not to strike at the GM Arlington plant in Texas, stating that the decision was based on GM’s last-minute concession to include workers at GM’s Ultium Cells battery plants in the national UAW labor agreement. The GM Arlington plant is considered the most-profitable auto plant in the world. The UAW has expanded its strike against the Big Three Detroit automakers (GM, Ford, and Stellantis) twice since the initial round of walkouts was called in September, and the union is currently engaged in negotiations with each automaker in an effort to reach a new agreement.
In a speech made via livestream broadcast on social media Friday afternoon, UAW President Shawn Fain hailed GM’s reversal to include Ultium workers in the national UAW contract as “a major breakthrough that’s not only dramatically changed negotiations, but [will] change the future of our union and the future of our industry.”
“We were about to shutdown GM’s largest moneymaker in Arlington, Texas,” Fain said. “The company knew those members were ready to walk immediately, and just that threat has provided a transformative win.”
The GM Arlington plant produces the automaker’s full-size SUVs, including the Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Suburban, Chevy Tahoe, and GMC Yukon. According to a report from Reuters, which cites analysts and suppliers, the GM Arlington facility is the most profitable auto plant in the world, generating roughly $25 billion in revenue over the course of the 2022 calendar year.
GM previously announced plans to continue to build ICE-powered SUVs at the facility through the 2035 calendar year, after which the plant will be converted to produce a zero-emissions vehicle lineup. In the interim, GM recently announced a new $500 million investment to upgrade the facility for production of GM’s next-generation full-size SUVs, including new tooling and equipment for stamping, body shop, and general assembly areas.
The UAW initially called for walkouts at all three of the Big Detroit automakers in September, and has expanded the strikes twice in the weeks since.
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Comments
They wouldn’t dare. If UAW wants to totally torpedo negotiations they would’ve threatened to strike Lansing and Arlington. They know if they do all negotiations are off the table. Yet we wonder why all the jobs are going overseas or to Mexico. Only hurting the working class more and more. I can’t even get a genuine GM front license plate bracket, unbelievable.
Thank god we can still crank out SUV’s that cost between $60,000-$160,000!!!
I said a few days ago this is all orchestrated drama and they wouldnt touch full size suv and hd trucks i mean cash cows. this confirms it. i think we are all being taken for a ride here. the consumer always loses
UAW ‘leadership” are crimminal parasites.