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A2 UP FRONT
Monday 16 SepteMber 2019
Continued from Front new positions, a minority
"We stood up for General of which would be filled by
Motors when they need- existing employees. GM
ed us most," union Vice would not give a precise
President Terry Dittes said number. The investments
in a statement, referring would be made at fac-
to union concessions that tories in four states, two of
helped GM survive bank- which were not identified.
ruptcy protection in 2009. The statement also said the
"Now we are standing to- company offered "best in
gether in unity and solidar- class wages and benefits,"
ity for our members." improved profit sharing
It's still possible that bar- and a payment of $8,000
gainers could return to the to each worker upon rati-
table and hammer out fication. The offer included
an agreement, but union wage or lump sum increas-
spokesman Brian Rothen- es in all four years of the
berg said at a news confer- deal, plus "nationally lead-
ence that it would be un- ing" health benefits.
likely because it is hard to The announcement came
believe they could resolve hours after the union let its
so many issues before 11:59 contract with GM expire
p.m. Saturday night.
GM on Friday offered to If there is a strike, picketers
build a new all-electric would shut down a total
pickup truck at a factory of 53 GM facilities, includ-
in Detroit that is slated to ing 33 manufacturing sites
close next year, accord- and 22 parts distribution
ing someone who spoke warehouses. GM has facto-
to The Associated Press on ries in Michigan, Ohio, New
the condition of anonym- York, Kentucky, Tennessee,
ity because that person Texas, Missouri, Indiana and
wasn't authorized to dis- Kansas.On Saturday, Dittes, UAW picket signs stick in the fence along Van Slyke Road in front of the General Motors Flint As-
close details of the nego- the union's chief bargainer, sembly plant in Flint, Michigan on Sunday, September 15, 2019.
tiations, which hadn't been said in a letter to GM mem- Associated Press
released to the public. The bers that after months of
automaker also offered to bargaining, both the union union and GM were tense gap is the largest at $13 per plans and workers pay
open an electric vehicle and GM were far apart from the start, largely be- hour, followed by Ford at about 4% of the cost. Em-
battery plant in Lordstown, on issues such as wages, cause GM plans to close $11 and Fiat Chrysler at $5, ployees at large firms na-
Ohio, where it has a plant health care, temporary four U.S. factories, includ- according to figures from tionwide pay about 34%,
that has already stopped employees, job security ing the one on the Detroit the Center for Automotive according to the Kaiser
making cars. The new fac- and profit-sharing. The let- border with the enclave Research. Family Foundation. The au-
tory would be in addition to ter to members and anoth- of Hamtramck, and Lord- — Union members have tomakers would like to cut
a proposal to make elec- er one to GM were aimed stown. The union has prom- great health insurance costs.q
tric vehicles for a company at turning up the pressure ised to fight the closures.
called Workhorse, the per- on GM negotiators. Here are the main areas of
son said. A strike would bring to a disagreement:
It's unclear how many work- halt GM's U.S. production, — GM is making big money,
ers the two plants would and would likely stop the $8 billion last year alone,
employ. The closures, es- company from making and workers want a big-
pecially of the Ohio plant, vehicles in Canada and ger slice. The union wants
have become issues in Mexico as well. That would annual pay raises to guard
the 2020 presidential cam- mean fewer vehicles for against an economic
paign. President Donald consumers to choose from downturn, but the compa-
Trump has consistently criti- on dealer lots, and it would ny wants to pay lump sums
cized the company and make it impossible to build tied to earnings. Automak-
demanded that Lordstown specially ordered cars and ers don't want higher fixed
be reopened. trucks. costs.
The UAW's Rothenberg said The strike would be the — The union also wants new
the company made gen- union's first since a two-day products for the four facto-
eral statements about why work stoppage at GM in ries GM wants to close. The
it is planning to strike, but 2007. factory plans have irked
he would not comment On Friday, union leaders some workers, although
further on GM's offer. The extended contracts with most of those who were
union said it would strike Ford and Fiat Chrysler in- laid off will get jobs at other
for fair wages, affordable definitely, but the pact with GM factories. GM currently
health care, profit sharing, General Motors was still set has too much U.S. factory
job security and a path to to expire Saturday night. capacity.
permanent employment The union picked GM, — The companies want to
for temporary workers. which is more profitable close the labor cost gap
In a statement, GM also than Ford and Fiat Chrys- with workers at plants run
said the offer made to the ler, as the target company, by foreign automakers.
union on Saturday includ- meaning it's the focus of GM pays $63 per hour in
ed more than $7 billion in bargaining and would be wages and benefits com-
U.S. factory investments the first company to face a pared with $50 at the for-
and the creation of 5,400 walkout. Talks between the eign-owned factories. GM's