The United Auto Workers (UAW) launched a strike late Thursday by targeting all three Detroit automakers at once after contract negotiations failed to land a new deal. According to the Detroit Free Press, UAW members at three assembly plants in Michigan, Ohio and Missouri went on strike after their labor contracts expired at 11:59 p.m. The UAW confirmed that about 13,000 members across the three plants are walking the picket lines.
The strike is targeting specific plants of Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, which makes Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Fiat brands. Union leaders have said they will select additional target plants to strike in various waves if negotiations continue to fail to land new agreements with the auto companies. The strategy is designed to keep the automakers off-guard and leverage the union’s position to secure a better contract than the offers the Detroit automakers have made so far, according to the Detroit Free Press. The index for motor vehicles and parts declined 5% in August and the strike will weigh further on auto output this month.
The UAW strike has the potential to significantly disrupt supply chains and the economy, including the generation and demand for recycled materials. ISRI is hosting a webinar with industry experts on the potential impacts of the strike on the recycled materials industry and your company. The webinar will take place this Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, at 3 p.m. and is open to ISRI members and nonmembers at no charge. Registration is required.
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