The strike is impacting the assembly plants of three major automakers, Ford, GMC, and Jeep.
The Union is seeking substantial pay rises and improved working conditions, including the abolition of forced overtime and the reinstatement of a traditional pension plan for workers hired since 2007. Ford warned that striking workers may face financial hardship as the union’s weekly strike benefit would only cover a fraction of their normal wages. Profit sharing checks could also be drastically reduced if the strike hampers ford’s sales.
Despite company offers to increase wages by up to 20 percent, the Union maintains its stance, demanding immediate pay raises and additional hikes during the contract’s life. One of their key concerns, however, is the potential job losses and plant closures that may stem from the shift to electric vehicles, as these require less labor to assemble than traditional gas-powered cars.
