Yesterday, thousands of striking autoworkers at a GM SUV assembly plant in Indiana walked out of their jobs in support of an ongoing nationwide strike by the United Automobile Workers union.
The walkout came as negotiations between the union and the automaker remain stalled over unpaid wages, job security, and safety concerns. The strikers, which represent about 2,000 hourly workers in the state, are demanding that GM restore production cuts that were implemented in January in response to weakening sales.
The UAW has been bargaining for better wages and benefits since the summer, and has been in a prolonged strike with GM since September 15th. This most recent strike to hit the Indiana plant is the latest in a series of escalating labor disputes since contract talks first began. The UAW has now expanded its strike to a total of 10 plants across the country, covering over 44,000 employees.
In response, GM has clarified that it is doing its best to reach a “reasonable” agreement with the union. The automaker has also offered its employees one-time signing bonuses as an incentive to get them to agree to a new contract.
Despite the stand-off, the company says it is committed to reaching a deal that works for both sides. It remains to be seen whether this new strike will help the union bring GM closer to their demands, or further widen the labor divide between the two parties.
