For the first time in its 88-year history, the United Autoworkers Union (UAW) has launched a workers’ strike against Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, with nearly 13,000 workers taking strike action against their respective employers in what is being titled the “Stand Up Strike.”
After labor contracts expired on Thursday night and new agreements or extensions left unsigned, workers staged a walkout at major plants in Michigan, Ohio, and Missouri. These plants are responsible for some of America’s most popular vehicles, including the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, and Chevrolet Colorado.
The negotiations over workers’ wages ground to a halt on Thursday, with the UAW refusing to accept increase proposals as high as 20%. Just yesterday, GM tabled what it deemed a record offer. Effectively, workers have become tired of seeing their wages stagnate in a bid to make vehicles more affordable as other costs increase, with US automakers now unlikely to achieve their goals of sub-$20,000 EVs as a result.