The ongoing strike may be over between United Auto Workers (UAW) and one of the Detroit Big Three automakers. The UAW and Ford reached a tentative agreement Wednesday in a deal that would end the six-week old strike. According to Reuters, the deal, yet to be approved by UAW leadership, provides a 25% wage hike over the 4 1/2 year contract, starting with an initial increase of 11%.
UAW President Shaw Fain outlined next steps in a video address on social media- the first being Sunday October 29th. That's when elected leadership in the UAW Ford Council will meet and vote on whether to send the tentative agreement to membership.
In a statement Wednesday, Ford CEO and President Jim Farley said:
"We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract with the UAW covering our U.S. operations.
Ford is proud to assemble the most vehicles in America and employ the most hourly autoworkers. We are focused on restarting Kentucky Truck Plant, Michigan Assembly Plant and Chicago Assembly Plant, calling 20,000 Ford employees back to work and shipping our full lineup to our customers again.
The agreement is subject to ratification by Ford’s UAW-represented employees. Consistent with the ratification process, the UAW will share details with its membership."
Earlier this week, the UAW went on strike at GM's Arlington, Texas SUV Plant and a Stellantis plant where it builds the Ram 1500.
For the latest on the strike tune in to the CarPro Show with host Jerry Reynolds the Car Pro this weekend.
Strike Timeline
- August 25: UAW members authorize leaders to call a strike against the Detroit Big Three automakers.
- August 27: UAW ratifies interim agreement immediately raising salaries at GM's Ultium cells battery plant.
- August 31: Ford offers a general wage increase of 9% along with a 6% lump sum award. Read the offer here.
- September 6: Reuters reports the UAW reportedly makes a counteroffer to Ford.
- September 7: Ford announces that on Labor Day it raised the pay for nearly 8,000 U.S. hourly workers represented by the UAW. The raise amounts to roughly $9,000 a year without overtime and the increase is a provision of a 2019 contract.
- September 7: GM makes a 10% wage hike counteroffer to the UAW, an offer the UAW president calls "insulting", as reported by Reuters. (Last week, the UAW filed unfair labor practice charges against GM with the National Labor Relations Board.
- September 7: Ford reportedly met with the UAW Thursday afternoon and according to the Detroit Free Press improved its offer.
- September 8: Stellantis gives UAW its first offer that reportedly includes wage hikes totaling 14.5% for most workers, according to the Detroit Free Press. (The UAW recently filed unfair labor practice charges against Stellantis as well as GM.)
- September 8: The UAW calls Stellantis' offer "deeply unfair".
- September 11: According to Reuters, the UAW reports some progress in talks but still no agreement with a strike deadline three days away. Reuters also reported that the UAW has reduced its wage demands. The news outlet also reported that GM extended a revised offer over the weekend, with Stellantis planning to make a counteroffer to the UAW's revised offer. Read the article here.
- September 13: Ford shares the latest on its negotiation offer.
- September 14: GM says it made a historic offer to the UAW with 20% wage increases.
- September 14: Ford released an evening statement about the ongoing negotiations.
- September 14: At 11:59PM UAW workers walk of the job at three plants, one from each automaker.
- September 18: UAW President Shawn Fain says strike will expand unless "serious progress" is made by noon Friday.
- September 20: Automotive News reports GM and Stellantis layoffs due to idled plants or parts issues.
- September 20: GM President Mark Reuss criticizes UAW for its rhetoric and over "flow of misinformation" - CNBC
- September 21: Leaked private messages from a top UAW official evoke outrage from automakers.
- September 22: UAW says it will expand strike against GM and Stellantis but not Ford. It is targeting 38 distribution centers in 20 states.
- September 22: Stellantis shares its response to the UAW.
- September 22: Ford releases a new statement.
- Week of September 25th: Tensions escalate both in negotiations and on the picket lines.
- September 26th: President Joe Biden joins a UAW picket line in Michigan.
- September 27th: Former President Donald Trump visits a non-union automotive plant in Michigan.
- September 29: UAW goes on strike against two additional plants, one GM and one Ford. The UAW spares Stellantis this week.
- September 29: Ford issues a statement.
- October 3: Ford issues new statement regarding new offer extended to UAW on Monday night.
- October 5: Reuters reports that GM said it extended another offer to the UAW.
- October 6: UAW says it will not strike GM's Arlington assembly plant at this time due to a breakthrough in negotiations.
- October 9: Stellantis lays off more workers due to strike.
- October 10: GM faces a strike in Canada where 4,300 Unifor workers walked off the job.
- October 10: GM reaches tentative deal with Unifor so strike is short lived.
- October 11: UAW strikes Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant.
- October 11: Ford issues statement.
- October 13: UAW President Shawn Fain does not announce any additional strikes but says it could at any time.
- October 16: Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford urges UAW to end the strike.
- October 17: Stellantis announces it will cancel its planned display and presentations at CES 2024 due to the ongoing UAW strike.
- October 19: Ford announced it laid off another 150 workers at its Sterling Heights axle plant on Wednesday.
- October 19: Stellantis lays off another 100 workers at its Toledo Machining plant.
- October 20: UAW President Shawn Fain threatens more strike action but does not announce additional walkouts.
- October 23: UAW Strikes Stellantis' Ram truck plant in Michigan. 6,800 workers walk off the job.
- October 23: Anderson Economic Group shares cumulative loss estimates through the fifth week of the strike.
- October 24: UAW strikes GM's Arlington large SUV assembly plant.
- October 25: UAW and Ford reach tentative deal
