Autoworkers are on strike at General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, an unprecedented move by the United Auto Workers union. Already, there are ripple effects.
Autoworkers' emotions — from excitement to fear and apprehension — are running high as the United Auto Workers launches an unprecedented strike against General Motors, Ford and Stellantis at once.
There are several ways the unprecedented United Auto Workers strike could hit the economy, but it will depend on how long the strike lasts and how many plants are affected, among other factors.
Bold union demands, bolstered by a tight labor market and frustration throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, are paying off in some sectors with significant raises for workers.
Less than two hours before the strike deadline, United Auto Workers revealed the first wave of plants to be targeted if the union and the Big 3 automakers fail to reach a deal just before midnight.
As autoworkers' real wages fall, top executives at the Big Three carmakers continue to earn tens of millions of dollars each year — hundreds of times more than the median employee.
The warning came after air bags apparently exploded in three more cars, killing the drivers. Affected models include Chargers and Chrysler 300 sedans from the 2005 through 2010 model years.
Ford, Stellantis, and now GM again: Auto makers continue to close plants as they reel from a shortage of chips that poses a critical challenge for the sector.
