Three UAW Locations Strike Simultaneously... "Raise Hourly Wage by 40% and Work 32 Hours a Week"

For the First Time in 88 Years... A Total of 12,700 Participants
Starting at GM, Ford, and Stellantis Factories

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union began striking on the 15th (local time) at three plants of the three major companies: General Motors (GM), Ford, and Stellantis.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) went on strike at General Motors (GM), Ford, and Stellantis plants on the 15th (local time). The photo shows UAW President Shawn Fain speaking at a rally at the Ford plant in Wayne, Michigan, on the 15th (local time). Photo by AFP Yonhap News.

According to foreign media such as AP News and CNBC, the strike took place at Ford's Wayne Assembly Plant in Michigan, Stellantis' Jeep assembly plant in Toledo, Ohio, and GM's Wentzville Assembly Plant in Missouri, with a total of 12,700 participants involved in the strike.

As a result, production of some popular models, including the Ford Bronco SUV, Stellantis Jeep Wrangler, and GM Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup, will be halted.

Sean Payne, UAW president, warned, "For now, a full-scale strike causing greater damage is on hold, but if a new agreement is not reached, any option is possible."

Although the strike is taking place at plants producing popular and profitable models, it is interpreted as a statement considering that plants producing high-profit models such as the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, and Stellantis Ram pickup were left out.

President Payne announced an unprecedented simultaneous strike plan with less than two hours remaining before the expiration of the existing agreement. He said, "For the first time in our history, we will strike all of the 'Big 3' at once."

The UAW simultaneous strike is the first case in the union's 88-year history. Previously, the union had announced that it would begin striking from this day if wage negotiations broke down.

The UAW has been demanding at least a 40% wage increase over the next four years and strengthened job security during the expansion of electric vehicle production, confronting the companies.

The companies offered up to a 20% wage increase in response to the union's demands. Ford stated that if it accepted the union's proposal, labor costs would double, and it would lose competitiveness compared to non-unionized companies like Tesla.

In response, President Payne dismissed claims that the union's demands would cause excessive costs and countered that companies have spent billions of dollars on stock buybacks and executive compensation.

Deutsche Bank estimated that each company would incur losses of about $400 million to $500 million (530 billion to 660 billion KRW) per week due to the strike. While these losses could be compensated by increasing production schedules after the strike, if the strike extends for weeks or months, the possibility of compensation will disappear.

AP News reported that amid the paradigm shift from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles, this strike will show the future of the U.S. automotive industry.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.