September 24, 2007
UAW Calls Strike As Deal Hits Impasse
UPDATED.
As promised, about 73,000 unionized workers walked off the job at several General Motors plants nationwide this morning when the automaker and the United Auto Workers failed to settle contract disagreements by an 11 a.m. deadline set earlier by union leaders. "The work stoppage represented the first significant contract-related GM labor strike since 1984, when the UAW struck 25 facilities for 13 days," the Wall Street Journal (subscription) reports.
It wasn't immediately clear exactly why GM and UAW officials could not come to an agreement in time to avoid the walkout.
"The company walked right up to the deadline like they really didn't care," UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said at a press conference this afternoon, placing the blame squarely at the feet of GM negotiators. "We will be going back to the bargaining table today.... We expect that the company would move rather expeditiously on the open issues," he continued.
In a statement released prior to the walkout, GM announced: "The bargaining involves complex, difficult issues that affect the job security of our U.S. work force and the long-term viability of the company. We are fully committed to working with the UAW to develop solutions together to address the competitive challenges facing General Motors."
Representatives for the union and the company worked through the night Sunday and this morning entered their 10th day of negotiations since UAW's contract with the automaker expired. The union set the 11 a.m. deadline for a deal in a statement released early this morning. "The company's disregard for our members has forced our bargaining committee to take this course of action," UAW Vice President Cal Rapson said.
Media outlets had reported earlier that progress over the weekend was pointing to a historic deal in the making, although the issue of job security remained a major sticking point for workers. In an analysis, Fortune Senior Editor Alex Taylor III maintains "there isn't much to worry about. There are a number of signs that this is only a token strike called to fire up the faithful and put a little more pressure on GM."
The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press are covering this story from the Motor City. And WSJ is keeping tabs on the situation in its Strike Notebook.
