If this was a strike to establish equality and end the many-tiered wage scheme, it did not accomplish that. Most workers I interviewed over eight visits to the line said their top priority was “make everyone equal” or “hire the temps.” They talked about “a fair wage for everyone, everything fair and equal to all families.” They repeatedly said, “They're working just as hard as we are.” When I visited the picket line at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly on the first day, workers couldn't tell me what they were going out for.īut remarkably, a consensus soon emerged. The strike was declared suddenly, with no guidance from top bargainers on its goals. Comparison with non-union workers is another way to say, “You should feel lucky you have a job.” THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WANTED The 93 percent of private sector workers who don't have a union would surely appreciate a guaranteed wage increase, and this four-year contract contains two of them.īut if you are comparing this contract to what GM could afford to pay, or to what auto workers deserve, or to what they thought they were striking for, then it falls short.Įxcuse me, but I thought this was why we had unions, and strikes-so that we could win conditions better that what employers are willing to give without a union. “They have locked-in pay increases and bonuses, which very few people can count on,” said University of Michigan professor Erik Gordon. It seems your attitude toward this contract depends on whether you're comparing what GM workers have to what everyone else has-that is, the vast majority of nonunion workers who have no rights at all. Said Adriana Jaime, a 21-year worker at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly, “For the weeks we've been walking here, it's not enough.” The contract does not come close to recouping all the concessions made since the 2007 contract brought in half-pay for new hires and since GM's 2009 bankruptcy forced even more givebacks. No rank-and-file Auto Workers member was quoted.īut plenty of workers are unhappy with the deal, as they vote this week. A labor studies professor predicted that workers would think this was the best they could get, so striking longer would not be worth it. A business professor cited said the deal was bad for GM. “UAW got a good deal from GM, labor leaders, experts say,” read the headline.
Become a subscriber.The Detroit Free Press did its bit Friday toward convincing GM workers to vote yes on their proposed contract. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. LaReau at Follow her on Twitter jlareauan. More: A unique GM lab in Milford holds secrets to future EV driving here, and on the moonĬontact Jamie L. More: Chevrolet Bolt EV to disappear from lineup as new technology rolls out Another gain was an increase in retirement contribution from 4% to 5%.Īmong many other gains in the contract, GM agreed to give consideration to certain qualified subsystems employees who apply for a GM production job opening ahead of external candidates. The contract also said starting May 15, 2023, eligible employees will get a 6% lump sum Performance Bonus Payment based on qualified earnings. The team leader jobs start at $19.50 and now can rise to $23 to $25 an hour. Under it, a new hire would start at $18.50 an hour and after about eight months could work up to $22 or $24 an hour depending on the job.
The new contract expires in September 2023. UAW Vice President for the GM Department Terry Dittes said: "We started with solidarity and that is how we crossed the finish line - united as one." But about 15 minutes before a strike deadline, GM and the UAW reached a tentative agreement for a new contract.