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U.S. NEWS Thursday 17 OcTOber 2019
Continued from Front ny did offer $9 billion worth
Another person briefed on of investments at U.S. fac-
the talks said the only issues tories, $7.7 billion from the
that remain are faster pay company and another $1.3
increases for workers hired billion from joint ventures.
after 2007, apprenticeships The $1.3 billion includes a
for skilled trades workers, battery cell factory near
and the specifics of wind- Lordstown, Ohio, where
ing down a joint union- GM wants to close an as-
company training center. sembly plant.
The person also didn't want They also apparently have
to be identified because agreed on wages and
the talks are ongoing. lump-sum payments, al-
The union has summoned its though the amounts are
national council of factory- unknown. A company of-
level leaders to Detroit for fer last week would give
a meeting Thursday billed workers lump sums equal
as an update on contract to 4% of their base pay in
talks. The group could be the first and third years of
assembling to vote on a the four-year contract, with
tentative agreement. It 3% pay raises in the second
also will decide if workers and fourth years. This would
should return to their jobs be in addition to annual In this July 16, 2019, file photo General Motors Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra
before or after they vote on profit-sharing checks. This speaks during the opening of their contract talks with the United Auto Workers in Detroit.
the deal. year workers got checks for Associated Press
"I don't think Mary Barra $10,750 each. GM also of-
would have returned unless fered to lift the $12,000 cap and bargaining chairmen, Workers could stay on strike return to work during the
they were making prog- on profit-sharing checks. also will vote. If they ap- until after all members vote ratification vote because
ress," said Art Wheaton, an The union also sought prove it, then this group on the contract. That vot- temperatures are starting
auto industry expert at the sweeter retirement ben- would also decide if work- ing could take a week or to get colder, and it might
Worker Institute at Cornell efits. ers would put down picket longer. But Wheaton said not make sense for them to
University. "And I don't think After initially trying to cut signs and go back to work. the union might decide to stay on the picket lines.q
they'd have told every- health care costs, GM
body to return to Detroit on agreed to leave benefits
Thursday." and payments untouched.
The strike, now in its 30th Union members pay 3%
day, is the longest against premiums while most work-
an automaker since a 54- ers at large companies in
day strike in 1998 in Flint, the U.S. pay over 30%, ac-
Michigan. That strike cost cording to the Kaiser Family
GM $2 billion. The union Foundation.
also went on a brief two- Both sides also have agreed
day strike against General on a path for temporary
Motors in 2007. workers to get permanent
Both sides are under pres- jobs. GM had proposed
sure to end the walkout, that they become perma-
which has cost GM close nent after three uninter-
to $2 billion in profits and rupted years of work, but
forced workers to live on that was shortened. GM
$250 per week, about one initially offered an $8,000
fifth of their base pay. Last bonus to workers to sign the
week, with the strike drag- contract, but sweetened
ging on, the union said it that to $9,000.
would increase strike pay Last week the Center for
to $275 per week. Automotive Research, an
Shares of GM rose on news industry think tank, estimat-
of a potential settlement, ed that GM is losing $450
closing Tuesday up 2.1% at million every week due to
36.26. production shutdowns. The
Negotiators last week ap- total loss likely has reached
peared to be deadlocked $2 billion. The strike immedi-
and each side issued letters ately silenced about 30 GM
or statements accusing the factories in the U.S. and has
other of failing to bargain in brought down two plants
good faith. A quiet period in Mexico and one in Can-
began over the weekend ada. Parts companies that
and negotiators worked supply GM have had to lay
into the night to resolve off thousands of workers.
most of the remaining is- If there's an agreement, the
sues, according to both strike would not end imme-
people briefed on the talks. diately. Bargainers would
A union demand that all have to vote on a deal,
vehicles sold in the U.S. be followed by union officers
built here apparently has and regional directors.
been resolved, but terms Then factory-level leaders,
are unknown. The compa- including local presidents