Fain Says UAW To Save Stellantis ‘From Itself’

[Yardbird]

Fain Says UAW To Save Stellantis ‘From Itself’​

Story by Andy Kalmowitz


United Auto Workers union members rallied on October 30 in Detroit over Stellantis’ investment commitments to the east side of the city. UAW President Shawn Fain, a staunch critic of Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, told the crowd, “It’s up to the membership to save the company from itself.” He made the comments as layoffs and furloughs become a big problem for the UAW at the automaker. From the Detroit Free Press:

The job cuts represent just one of the issues at the automaker that owns the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands. The company has struggled to manage inventory, has seen its sales drop in the United States, and is fighting with the UAW, suppliers, dealers and even shareholders. CEO Carlos Tavares has also announced plans to retire in 2026.
[...]
He accused Stellantis of trying to intimidate union members as they weigh potential strike authorization votes as part of a threatened national strike with robocalls and emails. He called out Tavares for the company’s stated plans to shift work to low-cost countries and said the company’s cost-cutting is a “pathway to a dead end.”
Despite the issues that Stellantis faces, he asserted that “a strike will cripple this company,” and that the company is scared, which is why it is fighting hard to prevent one.
olkswThe union has hosted similar rallies in the last couple of months in Trenton, Warren and Sterling Heights, and several locals have passed strike authorization votes as the union has threatened a potential strike. Three have voted in favor, but this week, Local 1166 in Kokomo, Indiana, failed to get the necessary two-thirds vote in favor of strike authorization.
Kevin Gotinsky, who heads the UAW’s Stellantis Department, described the Local 1166 vote as a low-turnout election, with about 61% voting in favor. He said the union is confident it can get “everybody moving together” going forward, with a more aligned approach over the next three months.

Of course, strike authorization doesn’t guarantee that a strike will happen, but you can rest assured that Stellantis doesn’t want the UAW to have that sort of leverage over it.

Here’s what Stellantis said of the rally and the situation it finds itself in with the union:

Stellantis [...] said the contract with the union ”clearly states that all planned investments are subject to business factor contingencies including market conditions and consumer demand, and company approval. The investments and timelines are not absolute guarantees.”
The statement noted, “There is indisputable volatility in the market, especially as the industry transitions to an electrified future. Over the past year, numerous companies across the industry have announced investment and product delays as well as outright product cancelations. This is information that the company has repeatedly shared with the UAW and that they have acknowledged.”

This could get real messy, folks.



https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/new...S&cvid=0cd28d18b800476e90c1903c8a700b72&ei=48