Union Changes Strategy in Auto Fight
By
Dan Markham on
Oct 17, 2023
The hopes for a quick, painless work stoppage by the United Autoworkers took another wrong turn last week.
During the week, the autoworkers announced a strike against a Ford truck plant in Kentucky, the first time the union has announced a new target midweek. The stoppage curtailed activity at Ford’s largest truck plant in the U.S.
In his weekly remarks on the state of the union’s efforts, UAW President Shawn Fain warned the automakers to expect more of that the longer the two sides are at impasse.
Since the first three plants targeted were revealed in mid-September, announcements of new sites for work stoppages were made during Fain’s weekly call on Fridays. But new developments in the month-long strike could now come at any time, part of the union’s efforts to keep the automakers off balance, the president said.
“We’re entering a new phase of this strike, and it demands a new approach,” Fain said. “We’re done waiting until Fridays to escalate our strike.”
Those aren’t exactly the words of a side closing in on a deal.
The work stoppage has begun to be felt by the metals supply chain. Let’s hope that, despite Fain’s words, balance can be restored soon.