25 September, 200773,000 autoworkers strike over job security and economic issues.
USA: 73,000 members of United Auto Workers (UAW) went on strike at General Motors plants across the United States on Monday after intense contract negotiations broke down over issues of job security, future product investments, outsourcing, and active member benefits.
The collective agreement that covers autoworkers employed by GM at 82 U.S. facilities, which includes assembly and parts plants and warehouses, expired at midnight on September 14. Negotiators bargained through an unprecedented nine-day contract extension in hopes of reaching an agreement.
"We're shocked and disappointed that General Motors has failed to recognize and appreciate what our membership has contributed during the past four years," said UAW president Ron Gettelfinger pointing out that UAW members have given plenty of concessions to GM in recent years including giving up a cost-of-living adjustment in the 2003 contract; a 2005 health care deal that left retirees with higher medical costs; cooperation with GM on its restructuring plan to close a number of U.S. factories and cut 34,000 hourly jobs; and a deal with Delphi Corp. that gave workers cash payments in exchange for lower wages.
"Obviously we're very concerned about this company," Gettelfinger told the Detroit News, "We've done a lot of things to help that company. We were disappointed in this round of negotiations to discover that it was a one-way set of negotiations -- it was going to be GM's way at the expense of the workers."
UAW Vice President Cal Rapson and director of the union's GM department, said the one-sided negotiations were "a complete failure by GM to address the reasonable needs and concerns of our members."
"Instead, in 2007 company executives continued to award themselves bonuses while demanding that our members accept a reduced standard of living," Rapson said referring to recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that disclosed a number of multimillion-dollar stock bonuses awarded to top auto executives despite massive job cuts and attacks on the wages, working conditions and benefits for autoworkers. In the case of GM, CEO Rick Wagoner was awarded restricted stock valued at $2.8 million and 500,000 options worth $1.4 million. Another 18 GM executives also received bonuses in the form of restricted stock options.
The nation-wide strike, the first against a U.S. automaker in 37 years, has gained widespread support nationally and internationally. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters said it will honour UAW picket lines outside GM facilities and will not deliver GM cars. The Teamsters union represents 10,000 automotive transport workers.
The Canadian Auto Workers (CAW), who expect up to 100,000 CAW members to be affected by the strike, also pledged support stating that CAW workers will not handle parts from U.S. GM plants out on strike. "GM appears intent on making workers and their communities pay for the problems caused by unfair trade and the flood of imports," said CAW president Buzz Hargrove. "We have to come together in solidarity." Autoworkers in Brazil and Europe have also expressed their solidarity support for the UAW.
Marcello Malentacchi, general secretary of the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), which represents more than 200 metal unions in over 100 countries around the world, acknowledged that the strike against GM and the gains to be made from this collective show of force are important to workers beyond U.S. borders. "The IMF strongly supports the efforts of our UAW brothers and sisters in their fight to preserve good union jobs -- jobs that guarantee workers a living wage, a voice in the workplace, health and safety protections and job security. This is something that we as trade unionists are all fighting for."
UPDATE
September 26: The UAW has ended its strike at GM after reaching a tentative deal in contract talks. Workers will head back to work today and ratification of the deal by the UAW membership will begin this week.