Oct. 3 (UPI) — The United Auto Workers strike has entered its third week, with Ford Motor Company making a stronger offer to the union and General Motors announcing additional layoffs.
Ford revealed its “strongest” offer on Monday in an effort to reach a tentative agreement on a new contract.
“We’ve presented an offer that will be costly for the company, given our large American footprint and UAW workforce, but one that we believe allows Ford to invest in the future,” said Ford CEO Jim Farley in a statement.
The latest offer from Ford includes profit-sharing, a pay increase to $21 per hour for temporary employees, a ratification bonus, elimination of wage tiers, restoration of cost-of-living allowances, increased 401k contributions, enhanced income protections, and more time off with up to five weeks of vacation.
“Our UAW workforce played a crucial role during the pandemic, and these same workers and their families were impacted by inflation,” Farley added. “We aim to ensure our workers emerge from these negotiations with a record contract and a strong future.”
As the strike entered its 19th day on Tuesday, General Motors announced that it would be laying off an additional 163 workers due to the ongoing walkout.
The affected workers from General Motors are from Toledo Propulsion Systems, which manufactures transmissions for the company’s midsize pickups and cargo vans at the Wentzville Assembly Center in Missouri, as well as for GM’s Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse at Lansing Delta Township Assembly in Michigan.
The UAW strike originally began at the Wentzville facility on September 14 and expanded to Lansing Delta Township on Friday.
In a statement, General Motors attributed a total of 2,100 layoffs to the strike.
“It is unfortunate that the UAW’s decision to call a strike at GM Lansing Delta Township Assembly continues to have negative ripple effects,” GM said. “The impacted team members are not expected to return until the strike has been resolved. Since we are working under an expired labor agreement, there are no provisions for company-provided sub-pay in this circumstance.”
While the UAW has not responded to Ford’s new offer or GM’s layoffs, unemployed workers are expected to receive $500 a week in strike pay based on UAW President Shawn Fain’s previous statements.
The UAW expanded its strikes against Ford and General Motors on Friday, citing a lack of progress in negotiations. Approximately 7,000 more workers at Ford’s Chicago Assembly and GM’s Lansing Michigan Delta Township plant joined the strike.
On Monday, auto workers reached a tentative agreement to avoid a strike with Mack Trucks, which is part of the Swedish Volvo Group.
“Nearly 4,000 UAW members at Mack Truck in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Florida (UAW Region 8 & Region 9) have a tentative agreement,” the UAW announced on social media.
