Live After Quit

Uncovered! UAW Strikes GM and Ford: Big Three Fight Heats Up

The United Auto Workers (UAW) has announced its newest set of proposed strikes against Ford and GM, two of the three largest automakers in the United States, citing prolonged labor disputes with the so-called “Detroit Big Three.” In response, the automakers have begun to prepare their contingency plans for the likely event of a strike, with no resolution currently in sight. The UAW’s latest proposal, which it announced Wednesday 11th of December, included several potential strike locations for the planned protests. GM’s Flint Assembly Plant in Michigan and the Lima Engine Plant in Ohio are both listed as potential sites, alongside Ford’s Buffalo Stamping Plant in New York. These factories account for thousands of jobs, with just four GM plants alone generating over 7,000 jobs, many of them potential UAW members or workers indirectly affected by their unions’ actions. The union has been in negotiations for a new contract since September and is still in disagreement with the automakers over wages and regional job security. The negotiations have become increasingly more contentious, as neither party has seemed willing to give in. In addition to the labor disputes, the union is also seeking to address axle safety and other workplace concerns for workers. Supporters of the UAW argue that a strike is necessary in order to give a voice to workers, who have increasingly seen their wages and job security diminish in the face of a changing economy. GM and Ford, meanwhile, have cited potential financial losses during a strike, insisting that jobs would be lost and production would suffer. Either way, the effects of a potential strike are sure to be felt not only by the automakers and the union, but also by the entire community of workers and individuals in the region, especially those relying on the auto industry for their livelihoods. With no resolution in sight, it remains to be seen how long the strike action will be sustained. The Detroit Big Three automakers, along with the UAW, have a responsibility to keep working together to ensure a secure future for the thousands of workers in the auto industry. Until a compromise can be reached on wages and job security, the proposed strike locations will only act as a reminder of how important the workers’ voice is.