UAW, Stellantis reach deal as union adds Tennessee GM factory strike
The union says the contract also saves jobs at a factory in Belvidere, Illinois, that Stellantis had planned to close.
LEARN MOREPosted: 9:50 a.m. EDT Oct 30, 2023 Updated:11:23 a.m. EDT Oct 30, 2023
After reaching recent tentative agreements with Ford and Stellantis, the United Auto Workers have reportedly reached a tentative agreement with General Motors, which would bring an end to the strike union workers at the major three automakers.
CNBC and Bloomberg reported the tentative agreements. CNBC reported the new agreement comes with a 25% pay raise and cost of living increases over the course of a 4.5-year contract.
"We haven't seen a strike in American manufacturing in a long time, which has produced a real clear, unambiguous, significant victory for union workers. And that's bound to be inspiring to other workers," said Joseph McCartin, professor of history at Georgetown University.
General Motors and the UAW had not confirmed the agreement as of Monday morning.
The agreements would require a vote by UAW membership.
"This contract kind of sets a precedent that the UAW can use to say, 'Hey, come join us. We have you know, we have proof of concept here of the clear benefits of working under a union contract,'" said Jake Rosenfeld, professor of sociology at Washington University-St. Louis.
The agreement came after the UAW walked out Saturday night at a GM factory in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
At one point last week, more than 40,000 UAW workers joined the strike, which covered seven plants and 38 warehouses.
"Once again, we have achieved what just weeks ago we were told was impossible," UAW President Shawn Fain said after the union reached an agreement with Stellantis. "At Stellantis in particular, we have not only secured a record contract, we have begun to turn the tide in the war on the American working class. Going into these negotiations, the company wanted to cut 5,000 jobs across Stellantis. Our Stand Up Strike changed that equation. Not only did we not lose those 5,000 jobs, we turned it all the way around. By the end of this agreement, Stellantis will be adding 5,000 jobs. We truly are saving the American dream.”
As for consumers looking to buy cars from the big three Detroit automakers, analysts say a surge in price is not guaranteed.
"The companies can fund this settlement out of their current profits, they've been making record profits, and so it doesn't necessarily have to produce a big jump in car prices," said McCartin.
