GM has stated that it will continue to provide health care coverage for the thousands of UAW members currently on strike. During the previous GM-UAW strike in 2019, GM opted to cut health coverage for striking workers, resulting in a public backlash. It’s unknown how long the current UAW strike will last, but GM recently acquired a $6 billion line of credit to absorb strike losses.
According to a report from Automotive News, both Ford and Stellantis have declined to comment on how striking workers’ health care coverage will be handled going forward. However, an unnamed source told Automotive News that none of the Big Detroit Three have informed the UAW that it will cut off health coverage for striking union members.
Under the previous GM and Stellantis contracts, both companies are obligated to provide health coverage until the end of the first calendar month that workers go on strike, which, with regard to the current strike, would be October 1st. Workers would then receive coverage through temporary COBRA plans covered by the UAW strike fund. The UAW strike fund is currently providing picketing union members with $500 per week in strike pay.
Back in 2019, the UAW conducted a strike against GM that lasted 40 days. In response, GM opted to quickly cut health care coverage, but following a strong backlash from union leadership and the public, GM reversed course a week later, opting to pay for health benefits through the entirety of the 2019 strike.
It’s estimated that 25,300 workers of the UAW’s 146,000 union members are currently on strike across all three of the Big Detroit automakers. This is the first time in which the UAW has called for a strike against all three makes at the same time.
It’s estimated that GM has lost roughly $200 million as a result of the UAW strike. One analysis places GM’s losses at $21 million a day.
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Comments
These UAW workers are lucky GM is so generous, even while they are on strike! Hope they appreciate how good the company is to them.
Screw that!!!!! Charge these entitled thugs COBRA or cut off their healthcare. As a shareholder these thugs are hurting my return. Why help them!!!!
Lol it kinda sucks that your losing money on your return. Tell that to the auto workers that went 12 years without a raise or cola,while inflation went through the roof. But lucky for you we will be back before to long (you won’t have to wait 12 years) and you can go back to earning your money off of our hard work. And really there is no reason for name calling I’m not a thug just a hardworking auto worker trying to support my family.
WHY?? Just like Ford’s latest offer, both companies appear to be caving, which will only lead to the big B.
Getting benefits, strike fund and possibly unemployment this could go on for awhile?
Yet more proof that GM wants the strike to continue. They have a massive amount of trucks that are at the dealers. Now they can blame the UAW for not being able to build vehicles. If the strike wasn’t happening, then they would have to idle the plants cause the trucks are too expensive and aren’t selling. They are playing Fain like a violin. GM will get serious about ending the strike when inventory dwindles down. That’s my opinion.
Lots of 4 cylinders or very expensive ones. I will likely Oder to get what I want.
What dealer has massive amounts of trucks. I have 9 in stock. That’s light and heavy duty combined.
Midnight Rider – according to Chevrolet.com there are over 19,000 2023 1500’s within a 2000 miles from my Zip Code. That is alot.
You do realize that number includes sold trucks that people have custom-ordered, right? Even the dealer-ordered trucks are selling before they hit the lots. Just because a truck is listed as “in transit” or on a lot does not mean it is available to buy, because it has already been sold. Some people are waiting for months for an allocation to put their truck order through, too, with some wait lists 60+ orders long.
Real simple the strikers are ruining their future
I am happy for the workers that GM has caved in these negotiations. GM caused the bankruptcy 15 years ago not the workers. GM has a USA market share under 17%. This is also when almost half of their products are produced in other countries and shipped here for sale. Seems like the agreement with a few local strikes is near complete. This is good news for the hard working members in the UAW!
I would bet the union is trying to get as much as possible, in order to convince non union factories to join the union. Nissan and VW have unions everywhere except the USA. European unions make the UAW look like little league. Foreign manufacturers charge just as much for their vehicles or more, they just make more profit per unit because the transplant factories are non union. But, be realistic the average business is in business to make money. The union realizes fewer workers will be needed to assemble EV’s, thus creating more profit. I’m not sure the union can do much to prevent that from happening. Current workers will be lucky if they can finish their career as an auto worker, it will probably take another month to realize the offers aren’t going to get much better.
These useless UAW sheeple walked off the job! Why the hell should GM continue to pay for their health care premiums? Total insanity!!