September 07, 2023 05:13 PM
The president of United Auto Workers has rejected an offer from General Motors, calling it “insulting.”
General Motors had offered UAW a 10% wage increase, along with two additional 3% annual lump sum payments over the course of four years in an attempt to avoid an impending strike from the auto industry. However, UAW President Shawn Fain rejected this offer in a statement released Thursday.
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“After refusing to bargain in good faith for the past six weeks, only after having federal labor board charges filed against them, GM has come to the table with an insulting proposal that doesn’t come close to an equitable agreement for America’s autoworkers,” read the statement. “GM either doesn’t care or isn’t listening when we say we need economic justice at GM by 11:59pm on September 14th. The clock is ticking. Stop wasting our members’ time. Tick tock.”
The UAW International Union is seeking a 46% wage increase ahead of Sept. 14, when contracts with Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, the “Big Three” American auto manufacturers, are set to expire. Last week, Ford offered a 9% wage increase through 2027 and 6% lump sum payments, which was also rejected.
The UAW has filed unfair labor practice charges against Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis as the union has attempted to negotiate over unfair wages and pensions. The union voted in favor of a strike if demands are not met by Sept. 14.
![Shawn Fain](https://mediadc.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/46353e7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8640x5760+0+0/resize/1060x707!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmediadc-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffd%2F25%2F8f9f5b9f4f25a080c42ea7776afa%2Fap23249549864639.jpg)
(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
President Joe Biden dismissed concerns regarding a possible strike earlier this week, stating he does not believe “it’s going to happen.” In August, the president issued a statement calling for the companies to “forge a fair agreement” with the UAW.
“The need to transition to a clean energy economy should provide a win‑win opportunity for auto companies and unionized workers,” Biden said in the prepared statement. “It should enable workers to make good wages and benefits to support their families, while leading us into a future where America is leading the way in reducing vehicle emissions.”
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Biden has struggled to secure endorsements for his 2024 reelection bid from the UAW, which had previously endorsed him in 2020.
Amid concerns of a strike, former President Donald Trump has asked auto industry workers to encourage their leaders to vote for him in the next presidential election and claimed that Biden’s “crazed concept” of “all Electric Cars” would greatly affect the auto industry.