‘No real intent to get…’, GM and Ford CEOs blast UAW leaders as strike escalates against Detroit Three
livemint.comUnion Auto Workers leaders on Friday. However, UAW chief Shawn Fain responded in kind as he expanded the first-ever simultaneous strike against the Detroit Three. Fain on Friday ordered workers to walk off the job at Ford's Chicago assembly plant and GM's Lansing, Michigan, assembly plant.
He said Stellantis was spared after last-minute concessions by the Chrysler parent. GM CEO Mary Barra said, “It’s clear that there is no real intent to get to an agreement." On the other hand, Ford CEO Jim Farley said the union was holding a deal "hostage" over a dispute over future electric vehicle battery plants, Reuters reported. In response, the UAW said that neither CEO had attended bargaining this week.
“And yet, Barra and Farley made a combined $50 million dollars last year," the union added. The Ford CEO further stated that the UAW demands could have a devastating impact on our business. He said the dispute centered around wages and benefits at new electric vehicle battery plants that have yet to start production.
“I don’t know why Jim Farley is lying about the state of negotiations. It could be because he failed to show up for bargaining this week, as he has for most of the past 10 weeks," Fain responded as quoted by Reuters. The GM CEO accused Fain of dragging workers into a long, unnecessary strike and trying to make history for himself with the action.
"Jeopardizing our future is something I will not do," Barra added. Fain said differences with Ford include retirement benefits and job guarantees. The total number on picket lines has grown to 25,000, or about 17% of the union's members at the three automakers, as per Reuters reports.
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