GM, Autoworkers Union Reach Tentative Agreement That Could Put End to Month-Long Strike
The United Auto Workers Union has reached a tentative agreement with General Motors (GM) which could..
The United Auto Workers Union has reached a tentative agreement with General Motors (GM) which could bring an end to a nationwide strike that began over a month ago.
News of the tentative deal was announced by leaders of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union on Wednesday, a month after nearly 50,000 hourly workers began their strike on Sept. 16, which brought the automakers U.S. factories to a standstill.
Details of the four-year agreement have not yet been released, however GM has reportedly promised increased wages of of 3 percent to 4 percent, lump-sum payments, access to premium health insurance at little cost to employees, promises of new products for many U.S. factories, and chances for temporary workers to enter full-time employment.
It comes after initial talks which sparked the strike in which GM said it planned to cut labor costs at its factories, which are about $13 per hour higher than at foreign automakers in the United States. Workers who walked out of their jobs last month said they wanted a bigger share of GMs profits and better job security.
Workers are likely to strike for at least another few days, until union committees decide whether to proceed with the deal. If this is successful, the union workers must vote on it.
UAW Vice President Terry Dittes said in a statement: “The number one priority of the national negotiation team has been to secure a strong and fair contract that our members deserve.”
Dittes said the unions bargaining committee recommends that the GM National Council vote favorably on putting the tentative agreement up for a ratification vote, reported the Los Angeles Times.
He added he is refraining from divulging details until union committee members vote on whether to approve the agreement during a private meeting on Oct. 17 in Detroit. Whether workers will return to work of remain on picket lines while a decision is being made will also be decided by local leaders.
Now in its fifth week, the strike has cost the company an estimated $2 billion, and could last another two weeks during a ratification vote, and a week at best if fast-tracked. This could cost the company another half a billion, reported Bloomberg, citing calculations made by Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst John Murphy.
The strike immediately brought GMs U.S. factories to a halt, and within a week started to hamper production in Mexico and Canada. Read More – Source