UAW threatens fresh strikes on Detroit Three, no Friday walkouts.
By David Shepardson and Joseph White
DETROIT (Reuters) – United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain declared on Friday that the union will take a new approach in their fight against the Detroit Three automakers. Instead of waiting until Fridays to announce new plans, they will now walk out of additional facilities without warning. Fain stated, “We’re entering a new phase of this fight and it demands a new approach.”
On Wednesday, Fain ordered a walkout at Ford’s Kentucky Truck factory, the automaker’s largest and most profitable operation globally. This unexpected move marks a shift in tactics as the UAW strike enters its fifth week, with over 34,000 union members on strike.
The talks with Ford, Chrysler parent Stellantis, and General Motors have become increasingly tense as Fain plays the automakers off each other. The union is demanding higher wages, the abolishment of a two-tier wage system, and a clear path to organizing new joint-venture battery plants.
Analysts estimate that Ford will lose about $150 million per week in core profit from the Kentucky plant strike. Some believe that the decision to shut down high-profit operations is a sign that the endgame of the strike is approaching.
‘AT THE LIMIT’
A senior Ford executive stated that the automaker is “at the limit” of what it can spend on higher wages and benefits for the UAW. Ford’s latest offer includes a 23% wage hike through early 2028. The UAW local president representing Ford’s Kentucky truck plant justified the walkout, claiming that Ford had stopped making progress on key bargaining issues.
Ford has warned of potential furloughs for thousands of workers and the halt of operations at its Louisville assembly plant. The UAW members are seeking improved retirement benefits and job security as the company shifts to electric vehicles.
Ford is working with the UAW to include workers at joint venture EV battery plants in the labor agreement. The Detroit automakers will report third-quarter financial results soon, and the UAW aims to leverage their expected profits for a better contract.
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- A Day of Jihad looms over Friday while Sen. Menendez faces new charges.
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Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Joe White in Detroit; Editing by Jamie Freed
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urges his colleagues across the aisle to quickly elect a new Speaker.
Michigan Democrat Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib continues to display a Palestinian flag outside of her Capitol Hill office, but Ohio congressman Max Miller says he’s introduced a bill to make that a violation of House rules.
A new lawsuit filed by the America First Legal Foundation reveals that then-Vice President Joe Biden’s office emailed his son and brother about foreign business more than 29-thousand times.
A Day of Jihad looms over Friday while Sen. Menendez is charged AGAIN.
Google said on Thursday that it will defend users of generative artificial-intelligence systems in its Google Cloud and Workspace platforms.
China has published proposed security requirements for firms offering services powered by generative artificial intelligence.
Internet companies Google, Amazon and Cloudflare say they have weathered the internet’s largest-known denial of service attack.
Samsung said its preliminary third-quarter profit dropped by a smaller-than-expected 78%.
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Rters have reached out to the Detroit Three automakers for comment, but have not received a response at this time.
Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Joseph White and Will Dunham
Contact Information:
David Shepardson – Email
Joseph White - Email
Why have the Detroit Three automakers not responded to the reporters’ request for comment?
There could be several reasons why the Detroit Three automakers have not responded to the reporters’ request for comment. Some possible reasons include:
1. Prioritizing internal matters: Automakers often have a fast-paced and demanding work environment, with various ongoing projects and internal issues that require their attention. They may decide to prioritize these matters over responding to external requests for comment.
2. Limited resources: Automakers may have limited resources, including personnel and time, to respond to every request for comment they receive. They may have to allocate these resources to more pressing matters or prioritize requests from other stakeholders.
3. Strategic decisions: Automakers may sometimes choose not to respond to certain requests for comment as part of their strategic communication approach. This could be due to concerns about potential negative publicity, competitive advantage, or maintaining control over their messaging.
4. Legal considerations: Automakers, like any other businesses, operate within a legal framework. They may be cautious about commenting on certain topics or issues due to legal implications, potential lawsuits, or regulatory constraints.
5. Internal protocols and approval processes: Large companies, including automakers, often have rigorous internal protocols and approval processes for external communications. It is possible that the reporters’ request for comment did not go through the proper channels or did not meet the criteria for response.
It is important to note that these are speculative reasons, and the actual reason for not responding to the reporters’ request can vary depending on the specific circumstances and context.
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