by
The United Auto Workers union, which vowed to strike if automakers didn't meet its demands, carried out the threat and launched a strike early Friday morning against all three of the U.S. auto giants.
In a posting on X, formerly Twitter, the UAW announced after midnight that it targeted strikes against three plants: GM's Wentzville Assembly in Missouri, the Stellantis Jeep Wrangler plant in Toledo and Ford's Bronco plant in Wayne, Mich.
The UAW Stand Up Strike begins at all three of the Big Three.#StandUp pic.twitter.com/WsUdPt0or5
— UAW (@UAW) September 15, 2023
The Detroit News reports that the union has requested as much as a 46 percent raise over a stretch of time, pensions and retiree health-care for all workers, the elimination of tiers, cost-of-living adjustments and 32-hour work weeks paid as 40 hours.
The News also reports:
GM and Ford were offering a 20% wage increase over four and a half years. All three had proposed a four-year progression for full-time workers to the top wage and a starting wage of $20 per hour for temporary/supplemental employees.
The targeted strikes for the time being will save the UAW strike pay, at least for the time being. Strike pay is $500 a week.
Full-time employees at the Big Three make $18 to $32 an hour. The union says wages haven't kept up with the times.
