August 21, 2015
By Steve Wishnia and Neal Tepel
The United Auto Workers has begun holding strike-authorization votes at General Motors and Fiat Chrysler, with the results due by the end of the month. A yes vote would enable the union to make a credible strike threat when the current contract expires on Sept. 14.
That contract, ratified in 2011, prohibited strikes at both companies, but with automakers reporting resurgent profits, UAW leaders want to roll back givebacks conceded during the 2008-09 recession. “The best thing that all labor unions try to do is resolve the differences at the table,” said Johnny Pruitte, president of UAW Local 276 in Texas, which represents about 4,000 workers at GM’s Arlington plant, but he said he urged workers earlier this year to save money so they’d “have a surplus” to weather a strike. Read more
