For the second time in a week, General Motors (GM) union workers have gone on strike against the company. This time, it is a walkout of workers at GM’s Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) plant in Lansing, Michigan.
GM and the United Auto Workers (UAW) union have been in a labor dispute since September 2019 when the contract between the two parties expired. Talks between the two parties have been stalled as both sides remain deadlocked on compensation, job security, and healthcare costs.
Despite the lack of progress on negotiations, union members have remained hopeful about the outcome. The latest strike can be seen as another step in an escalating effort by the UAW to exert pressure on GM and eventually reach an agreement.
The stoppage at the Lansing SUV plant is the latest in a series of strikes at other GM facilities. This past September, striking union members marched at a GM transmission factory in Toledo, Ohio, while last week workers walked off the job at transmission and metal stamping plants in Flint, Michigan.
The strikes have already dealt a financial hit to the auto giant. Last week, GM released a statement indicating that the walkouts had already cost the company $1 billion.
The continuing strikes have also been costly for UAW members, who have been putting their jobs and finances on the line with each walkout. Despite the financial hardships, Michigan union member Jerry Dance stated, “I’m willing to do whatever I can to fight for a better contract.” Other workers echoed his sentiment, citing the belief that the strikes are necessary to ensure better wages, job security, and working conditions.
Though negotiations haven’t been progressing as quickly as the union would like, the walkouts at GM plants have kept the issue at the forefront of attention. It’s likely that both sides will continue to battle out the contract until a satisfactory resolution is reached.
