UAW Submits Counteroffer To GM’s Latest Contract Proposal

The United Auto Workers (UAW) labor union has reportedly made a counterproposal to a GM contract agreement submitted by the automaker on September 21^st. The UAW counterproposal is the latest progress update in ongoing negotiations between the labor union and GM amid the UAW’s targeted strike against all three of the Big Detroit automakers.

Per a report from Automotive News, GM met with UAW negotiators on Monday to present the counteroffer to GM’s September 21^st proposal, according to a statement from GM spokesperson David Barnas.

“We are assessing, but significant gaps remain,” Barnas said.

The UAW did not respond to a request for comment on the counterproposal. However, Automotive News reports that an unnamed source familiar with the matter said that the recent UAW counteroffer was the union’s most comprehensive counter since GM’s most recent proposal.

Last month, GM stated that it had “put a fifth record offer on the table” since negotiations initially began in July. GM’s offer includes a 20-percent wage increase over four years, as well as a 50-percent reduction in the time it takes new hires to reach top wage tiers. Meanwhile, the UAW has called for a 40-percent wage hike and a 90-day period to reach top wages, as compared to the eight years required currently.

The UAW launched its initial strikes against the Big Detroit Three (GM, Ford, Stellantis) last month following the conclusion of the previous labor contracts on September 14^th. The labor union is currently employing a targeted strike strategy wherein workers at certain facilities are called on to strike, rather than all UAW members at all facilities, all at once. The targeted strategy is believed to provide UAW negotiators with greater flexibility. This is the first time that the UAW has called for strikes against all three of the Big Detroit automakers at the same time.

The UAW has expanded the strikes twice since the initial walkouts in September, opting not to expand the strike against Ford in the first expansion, and opting not to expand the strike against Stellantis in the second expansion, citing significant progress in contract negotiations with the automakers in both instances.

It’s estimated that 25,300 UAW members are currently striking. The UAW represents 146,000 auto workers across all three of the Big Detroit makes.

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