‘Their intent was to create a different class of workers,’ UAW President Shawn Fain says in an exclusive interview.
Shawn Fain. Photographer: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images , Photographer: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
The companies want to cordon off this conversation from negotiations of new four-year labor contracts they’re negotiating with the UAW. For one, most of their battery factories are still under construction. Plus, these facilities aren’t the carmakers’ outright — each of them have set up joint ventures with Asian battery manufacturers.
After making landmark concessions to the Detroit Three starting in 2007 — and getting just a pair of 3% raises over the past four years while auto profits soared — Fain is driving a hard bargain for his members. He’s sought a 46% wage increase, restoration of traditional pensions, cost-of-living increases, reduced work weeks and richer retiree benefits.
The union sees the opening pay scale at Ultium — GM’s venture with LG Energy Solution in Ohio — as a threat to middle-class wages for factory work. Employees at Ultium start at $15.50 an hour, half the top wage at assembly plants.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
UAW strike on Detroit 3 would cost U.S. economy billions, economic report saysA hypothetical 10-day strike against the Detroit 3 would result in more than US$5 billion in economic losses, according to the analysis from Anderson Economic Group.
Read more »
UAW chief warns contract talks with Detroit 3 moving 'too slow'The UAW has been negotiating with General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis for 30 days and the parties have yet to discuss economic terms, union President Shawn Fain said.
Read more »
Chainlink plummets below $7 as sell pressure overwhelms bullsTo the south, traders can watch out for $6.58 and $6.06. The bulls could drive a bounce in prices at those places.
Read more »
Hawaii vowing to protect Maui landowners from pressure to sell after wildfiresHawaii's governor vowed to protect local landowners from being 'victimized' by opportunistic buyers when Maui rebuilds from a deadly wildfire that incinerated a historic island community, as schools began reopening.
Read more »
Soccer-Kane can handle pressure at champions Bayern says coach TuchelMUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Bayern Munich's record signing Harry Kane will have no problems handling the pressure that comes with playing as a striker ...
Read more »
Demand headwinds mean no respite in pressure on aluminium pricesA glut of aluminium due to floundering demand in China and elsewhere and soaring supplies will undermine prices of the metal used in the transport, packaging and construction industries, possibly until end-2023. With manufacturing activity shrinking in China, the United States and Europe, the outlook for consumption of industrial metals looks sluggish. Benchmark aluminium CMAL3 on the London Metal Exchange (LME) fell to a five-week low of 2 134 a metric ton on Wednesday, a drop of 20% since the middle of July.
Read more »