Is the UAW strike going to affect anyone here?

I’m in a unique area and business where in Oakland Wayne and macomb county my business is largely from the uaw family workers. I absolutely could tell for the last 4-6 weeks people were holding back. Probably anticipating a strike so not spending. In the other three counties up north it’s business as usual. No effect whatsoever.

Are you guys seeing any or is it having an adverse effect on you? Will it if it goes for a while?

Not yet because the UAW is striking at select plants for now, hitting all the Big 3 at once for the first time.  Their list of demands is kind of wild IMO.

Key demands from the union have included 40% hourly pay increases, a reduced 32-hour workweek, a shift back to traditional pensions, the elimination of compensation tiers and a restoration of cost-of-living adjustments, among other items.

The UAW is nowhere near as big and powerful as it use to be but I think the membership in this article is very understated

For first time in history, union workers strike against all Big Three automakers

I’m sure suppliers will be thrilled when the big three demands cuts from their suppliers to help pay for whatever the settle for.

Think the workers were being cautious because they have never experienced selective strikes on plants of all the Detroit 3.

If Chrysler, Ford or GM drew the short stay the other's employees would still be punching in and collecting full pay and benefits thinking they dodged the bullet.

Initially the bars and restaurants around the affected plants are going to suffer first.

The Pantry wrote:Not yet because the UAW is striking at select plants for now, hitting all the Big 3 at once for the first time.  Their list of demands is kind of wild IMO.

Key demands from the union have included 40% hourly pay increases, a reduced 32-hour workweek, a shift back to traditional pensions, the elimination of compensation tiers and a restoration of cost-of-living adjustments, among other items.

The UAW is nowhere near as big and powerful as it use to be but I think the membership in this article is very understated

For first time in history, union workers strike against all Big Three automakers

From what I read, the demands are mimicking the executives... seems fair to me.

Proud union member here, but in the MEA.

America needs to support our workers.

I’m not having to make as many doughnuts as I usually do.

Trapper Gus wrote:UAW ends Ford strike after tentative deal reached...

https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2023/10/uaw-reaches-tentative-agreement-with-ford-sending-20000-employees-back-to-work.html

This deal puts a lot of added pressure on GM and Stellantis as their margins are slightly smaller than Fords.

reports that a tentative agreement has been reached.

Time to make the doughnuts.

Mary Bara and the GM negotiating committee were holding out when they saw the light. It was a market share train for trucks pulling away.

But when Stellantis joined Ford and the UAW announced the GM truck plant in Arlington TX was the next for targeted plants, GM saw the light.

Never thought the UAW as going to get their initial ask of 40% wage increases and think that was a starting point to get rid of the tiered workforce.

Stellantis offering buyouts to about half its US salaried employees

Toyota, then Honda and today Hyundai announced pay raises.

At Honda they've cut the seniority from 6 to 3 years to get the top hourly wage on the assembly line.

I suspect Toyota and Hyundai made similar changes.

The Pantry wrote:
Stellantis offering buyouts to about half its US salaried employees

Always a precursor to layoffs. Gotta take the buyout if offered.

Why are they turning these down?

AvgMSUJoe wrote:Why are they turning these down?

Because they want a job and automotive pays very well. Maybe you’ve worked there for 20+ years. Maybe you have family here and don’t want to move. Maybe you just bought a house or had a kid.

The smart ones will take buyout and start the job hunt now. If they don’t get enough takers (and they won’t), they will start cutting. But there won’t be enough open spots for everyone. Especially at the same pay/level.

I don’t think it is an easy decision to take it, but it is the right decision.

Nordic wrote:

The Pantry wrote:
Stellantis offering buyouts to about half its US salaried employees

Always a precursor to layoffs. Gotta take the buyout if offered.

Lot of workforce to offer to let go at one time.  Did Stellantis overstaff?  JMO...my place has been doing the same thing over a year.  The "foreign" investment firm that bought our place hoping to flip it might need to hang on a little longer.

The Pantry wrote:

Nordic wrote:

Always a precursor to layoffs. Gotta take the buyout if offered.

Lot of workforce to offer to let go at one time.  Did Stellantis overstaff?  JMO...my place has been doing the same thing over a year.  The "foreign" investment firm that bought our place hoping to flip it might need to hang on a little longer.

Massive amount. My guess is they only expect a certain % take it. No idea what that is, but I’m sure they do. Then they cut to get to the number the want.

I doubt that number is half their workforce.

Nordic wrote:

The Pantry wrote:
Lot of workforce to offer to let go at one time.  Did Stellantis overstaff?  JMO...my place has been doing the same thing over a year.  The "foreign" investment firm that bought our place hoping to flip it might need to hang on a little longer.

Massive amount. My guess is they only expect a certain % take it. No idea what that is, but I’m sure they do. Then they cut to get to the number the want.

I doubt that number is half their workforce.

Agree, the presented numbers don't make any sense. No idea where Stellantis design work is done now.

The Pantry wrote:

Nordic wrote:

Massive amount. My guess is they only expect a certain % take it. No idea what that is, but I’m sure they do. Then they cut to get to the number the want.

I doubt that number is half their workforce.

Agree, the presented numbers don't make any sense. No idea where Stellantis design work is done now.

No idea. My partner has always handled Chrysler. Never get a warm fuzzy when I talk to him about it.

Nordic wrote:

The Pantry wrote:
Lot of workforce to offer to let go at one time.  Did Stellantis overstaff?  JMO...my place has been doing the same thing over a year.  The "foreign" investment firm that bought our place hoping to flip it might need to hang on a little longer.

Massive amount. My guess is they only expect a certain % take it. No idea what that is, but I’m sure they do. Then they cut to get to the number the want.

I doubt that number is half their workforce.

Yeah, they’ll use percentages from previous buyout offers and their actuarial staff has probably triple- and quadruple-checked their own work.

Nordic wrote:

AvgMSUJoe wrote:Why are they turning these down?

Because they want a job and automotive pays very well. Maybe you’ve worked there for 20+ years. Maybe you have family here and don’t want to move. Maybe you just bought a house or had a kid.

The smart ones will take buyout and start the job hunt now. If they don’t get enough takers (and they won’t), they will start cutting. But there won’t be enough open spots for everyone. Especially at the same pay/level.

I don’t think it is an easy decision to take it, but it is the right decision.

I was actually talking about the UAW strike... GM and Ford workers voted down the agreements so far. That's concerning.

AvgMSUJoe wrote:

Nordic wrote:

Because they want a job and automotive pays very well. Maybe you’ve worked there for 20+ years. Maybe you have family here and don’t want to move. Maybe you just bought a house or had a kid.

The smart ones will take buyout and start the job hunt now. If they don’t get enough takers (and they won’t), they will start cutting. But there won’t be enough open spots for everyone. Especially at the same pay/level.

I don’t think it is an easy decision to take it, but it is the right decision.

I was actually talking about the UAW strike... GM and Ford workers voted down the agreements so far. That's concerning.

I’m not a member of those unions, but I greatly respect them. I do think, and this is my own opinion, sometimes the rank and file are told to vote agreements down to that corporate know we will eventually do this, but I understand we believe we deserve more. That’s just my opinion.

Newer plants require fewer assembly operations combined with just in time supply chain that often uses non-union manufacturing.

While I don't think EV's will dominate as soon as some, almost all vehicles are lasting a lot longer and US drivers are keeping their cars about 12 years.

Stellantis is just getting ahead of the pack. GM and Ford know they are overstaffed and have too many plants and production facilities for markets where a majority of vehicles are being driven over a decade.

UAW workers at GM's Spring Hill plant vote against tentative deal

The Pantry wrote:UAW workers at GM's Spring Hill plant vote against tentative deal

They just want their Saturn back.

tGreenWay wrote:

The Pantry wrote:UAW workers at GM's Spring Hill plant vote against tentative deal

They just want their Saturn back.

I want Pontiac back.

Trapper Gus wrote:

The Pantry wrote:I want Pontiac back.

I want Packard back. When will Stellantis get on the ball.

Appears the UAW didn't put Stellantis workers on the same page as Ford & gm.

GRR Spartan wrote:
Newer plants require fewer assembly operations combined with just in time supply chain that often uses non-union manufacturing.

While I don't think EV's will dominate as soon as some, almost all vehicles are lasting a lot longer and US drivers are keeping their cars about 12 years.

Stellantis is just getting ahead of the pack. GM and Ford know they are overstaffed and have too many plants and production facilities for markets where a majority of vehicles are being driven over a decade.

GM and Ford have been doing this for a while.

Lansing plants, split decision on the contracts

Trapper Gus wrote:

Nordic wrote:

GM and Ford have been doing this for a while.

GM in particular has been moving its "staff" functions to lower cost locations. They are doing a bunch of Engineering in India. Purchasing was headquartered in China last I knew.

GM has many purchasing offices around the world. Pretty sure the HQ is still in Detroit/Warren.