GM Union Workers Ratify UAW Deal Following Contentious Vote
Autoworkers in the United States have approved the United Auto Workers (UAW) latest labor contract offer with General Motors (GM). The agreement came following a contentious vote held by union members across the country, and despite initial resistance to the proposed deal.
The announcement came after a month-long series of negotiations between the union and the company as they sought to come to an agreement about working conditions, wages, and benefits. The last proposal from GM, which was ultimately approved by the union’s membership, included general wage increases, cost of living adjustments, better death and disability benefits for the families of deceased and disabled workers, as well as implementing a $60,000 ratification bonus and improved job security measures.
This new contract comes at a crucial time for GM and its workers, as the company faces the potential repercussions of its recent restructuring plan introduced in November 2018. This plan saw the closure of five factories in the United States and the elimination of over 14,000 positions across the country. It also resulted in the company having to face a drawn-out period of legal wrangling with the union.
Given the size of the agreement, it is understandable why it was met with considerable resistance from local UAW negotiators. While they felt that the concessions won from GM were significant, they argued that they could have pushed for more. In addition, the ratification process was complicated by the vote coming at a time when GM is facing a financial crisis, with some members believing it was the better option to wait and negotiate a better deal.
Despite the disagreement, the decision to approve the contract ultimately came down to the local union units after discussions and voting occurred amongst their members. The process revealed that while there may have been a wide range of opinions, the majority of the union’s members were in favor of the final deal, believing it was the best agreement they could get under the circumstances.
The recent agreement is testament to the strength of the UAW’s membership and could potentially set a precedent for future labor negotiations with GM and other automotive companies. In a statement following the ratification vote, UAW President Gary Jones declared: “Our members have spoken and approved a fair and balanced agreement that preserves and protects American jobs. This new agreement shows that when we fight, we win.”
