General Motors' Arlington assembly plant produces the company’s highly profitable full-size SUVs – Chevrolet Suburbans and Tahoes, GMC Yukons and Cadillac Escalades.The United Auto Workers said Friday that it won “a major breakthrough” in contract talks with General Motors by threatening to shut down the company’s most profitable plant in Arlington.
UAW President Shawn Fain said GM agreed to put its electric battery manufacturing under the union’s contract – a demand the automaker had previously opposed. He said the breakthrough came as the union threatened to call on Arlington’s more than 5,000 workers to walk off the job.The Arlington assembly plant produces the company’s highly profitable full-size SUVs – Chevrolet Suburbans and Tahoes, GMC Yukons and Cadillac Escalades.
“Our strike is working but we’re not done yet,” Fain said. “We know what plants they don’t want struck. Today, we made GM say yes when they’d rather say no.”Fain said GM also agreed to 23% in wage hikes, more than Ford or Stellantis have offered. GM previously had offered a 20% wage increase over four years, a four-year progression to the top wage, raises for temporary workers and the elimination of some wage tiers at parts distribution centers, among other items.
“GM has agreed to lay the foundation for a just transition,” Fain said. “Our goal has always been to win a record contract.” The union’s targeted strike of all three automakers began with walkouts at GM’s Wentzville Assembly plant in Missouri, Ford Motor Co.’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, and the Stellantis NV Jeep plant in Toledo on Sept. 15. It has since expanded to 38 GM and Stellantis parts distribution centers across the country, and most recently toare part of the strike. No additional strike sites were added Friday. Fain said union negotiators are making progress with all three automakers..