Vote coming for UAW strike at GM truck assembly plant

A new UAW strike at GM truck assembly plant is gaining momentum over the use of temporary workers. This could impact the timing of your buying a General Motors full-size truck.

UAW strike at GM truck assembly plant coming

The DetroitNews.com is reporting United Auto Workers 2209 is holding a vote to strike at the Fort Wayne Assembly Plant in Indiana. This plant builds the full-size Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500.

The dispute is over the use of part-time temporary workers and not turning those workers into full-time temporary workers and even permanent employees. GM said it is considering laying off 250 of them by the end of September according to a Detroit Free Press article. Since last December, the UAW has sought to reverse this decision.

The UAW contract that was signed in late 2023 is central to this dispute with both sides disagreeing over how the union can strike.

Shawn Fain, UAW International President, said the union won the right to strike at individual plants and future product plants among other detailed items.

Companies like Stellantis are arguing that language isn’t in the UAW contract, and strikes like this are illegal. They have sued the UAW in Federal court.

In a statement to the Detroit Free Press, Kevin Kelly, spokesperson for the automaker said: “GM is abiding by the provisions in our National and Local agreement with the UAW and there is not any practical or legal basis for a strike at Fort Wayne Assembly, home of the award-winning Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks.”

UAW Local 2209 President Rich LeTourneau said he was directed by UAW International to hold a vote for strike authorization. The vote is scheduled from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the local’s union hall.

If the members approve the strike, they won’t immediately go on strike while they wait for UAW International to weigh in.

The bottom line

Another round of UAW strikes seems immediate at both GM and Stellantis over what seems like a misunderstanding over the language in the UAW contract that was signed last fall. The key question is this: does the UAW have the right to strike at individual plants and over business matters? It sounds like a Federal judge is going to need to decide that issue.