United Auto Workers strike could impact car prices in Central Alabama

9 months ago 38

SHERRI, YOU’RE BACK FOR WVTM 13 NEWS AT TEN LIVE LOCAL LATE BREAKING WVTM 13 NEWS AT FIVE STARTS NOW. MEALS, NO WHEELS, NO MEALS. AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO BUY THE CARS THAT WE BUILD. IT’S BEEN FOUR DAYS SINCE THOUSANDS OF AUTO WORKERS WALKED OFF THE JOB, LEAVING THE NATION TO FACE WHAT COULD BECOME ONE OF THE LARGEST STRIKES IN THE PAST 30 YEARS. THANKS FOR JOINING US AT FIVE. I’M GUY RAWLINGS AND I’M SHERI FALK. THE STRIKE IS ONLY LIMITED TO THREE MANUFACTURING FACILITIES FOR THE TIME BEING, BUT EXPERTS WARN THAT LIST COULD GROW SUBSTANTIALLY IF THE STRIKE LINGERS. WVTM13’S CHIP SCARBOROUGH BREAKS DOWN THE DEMANDS FROM AUTOWORKERS AND HOW THE STRIKE COULD ULTIMATELY IMPACT DRIVERS IN OUR AREA. THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN CAR PRODUCTION IS IN QUESTION, AT LEAST IN THE INTERIM, AFTER SOME MEMBERS OF THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS UNION WENT ON STRIKE LAST WEEK. IT’S UNFAIR, FORTUNATE, BUT I DO SUPPORT THE WORKERS AND, YOU KNOW, THEM STANDING UP FOR EVERYTHING THEY HAVE TO DO. THE STRIKE INVOLVES GENERAL MOTORS, FORD AND STELLANTIS, WHICH MANUFACTURES CHRYSLER, DODGE RAM AND JEEP BRAND VEHICLES. ONLY ABOUT 13,000 OF THE UNION’S 146,000 MEMBERS AT THE THREE COMPANIES ARE ON THE STRIKE. BUT THAT NUMBER COULD GROW. AMONG THE THINGS UNION MEMBERS ARE CALLING FOR A 36% INCREASE IN PAY AND A 32 HOUR, FOUR DAY WORKWEEK. EXPERTS SAY A SHORTER WORKWEEK WOULD MEAN HIRING MORE WORKERS TO FULFILL PRODUCTION DEMANDS. THAT MEANS THEY’D HAVE TO HIRE ANOTHER 28,000 WORKERS AND THAT’S GOING TO DRIVE UP THEIR LABOR COST BUDGETS TREMENDOUSLY. SO THE STRIKE ISN’T HAVING A DIRECT IMPACT ON CAR PRODUCTION HERE IN ALABAMA, AT LEAST NOT RIGHT NOW. BUT IF THE STRIKE CONTINUES, THOSE IMPACTS COULD BE FELT RIGHT HERE. CAR BUYERS WILL BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED EITHER FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME OR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. UNION MEMBERS ARE ALSO ASKING FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE TIER PAY SCALE SYSTEM, MEANING NEW EMPLOYEES COULD ESSENTIALLY MAKE THE SAME AS SENIOR EMPLOYEES WITH NO EXPERIENCE HAS TO BE TAUGHT HOW TO DO THE JOB, HAS NO. WE DON’T KNOW HOW RELIABLE THAT PERSON IS GOING TO BE. THOSE POTENTIALLY IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW CAR ARE HOPEFUL THERE IS A RESOLUTION SOON. LOVE HEALS THE WORLD. LOVE HEALS YOU YOURSELF AND YOUR SOUL AND YOU TREAT OTHERS HOW YOU WANT TO BE TREATED FOR THE TIME BEING, ONLY FACILITIES IN MISSOURI, OHIO AND MICHIGAN ARE IMPACTED BY THE

The future of American car production is in question, at least in the interim, after some members of the United Auto Workers union went on strike last week."It's unfortunate, but I do support the workers and you know, them standing up for everything they have to do," Birmingham driver Bianca Wilkerson said.The strike involves General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, which manufactures Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, and Jeep brand vehicles. Only about 13,000 of the union's 146,000 members at the three companies are on strike, but that number could grow. Among the things union members are calling for are a 36 percent increase in pay and a 32-hour, 4-day work week. Experts say a shorter work week would mean hiring more workers to fulfill production demands."That means they'd have to hire another 28,000 workers and that's going to drive up their labor costs budgets tremendously," retired UAB marketing professor Bob Robicheaux said.The strike isn't having any direct impact on car production here in Alabama, at least not now. That doesn't mean the impacts of the strike won't be felt here, if it lingers. "Car buyers will be directly impacted, either for a short period of time or a longer period of time," Robicheaux added. Union members are also asking for the removal of the tier pay scale system, which Robicheaux says could essentially allow newer employees to earn the same income as senior employees. "With no experience, has to be taught how to do the job," Robicheaux said. "We don't know how reliable that person is going to be."Those potentially in the market for a new car are hopeful there is a resolution soon. "Love heals the world," Wilkerson said. "Love heals you, yourself, and your soul and you treat others how you want to be treated."For the time being, only facilities in Missouri, Ohio, and Michigan are impacted by the strike.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

The future of American car production is in question, at least in the interim, after some members of the United Auto Workers union went on strike last week.

"It's unfortunate, but I do support the workers and you know, them standing up for everything they have to do," Birmingham driver Bianca Wilkerson said.

The strike involves General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, which manufactures Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, and Jeep brand vehicles. Only about 13,000 of the union's 146,000 members at the three companies are on strike, but that number could grow.

Among the things union members are calling for are a 36 percent increase in pay and a 32-hour, 4-day work week. Experts say a shorter work week would mean hiring more workers to fulfill production demands.

"That means they'd have to hire another 28,000 workers and that's going to drive up their labor costs budgets tremendously," retired UAB marketing professor Bob Robicheaux said.

The strike isn't having any direct impact on car production here in Alabama, at least not now. That doesn't mean the impacts of the strike won't be felt here, if it lingers.

"Car buyers will be directly impacted, either for a short period of time or a longer period of time," Robicheaux added.

Union members are also asking for the removal of the tier pay scale system, which Robicheaux says could essentially allow newer employees to earn the same income as senior employees.

"With no experience, has to be taught how to do the job," Robicheaux said. "We don't know how reliable that person is going to be."

Those potentially in the market for a new car are hopeful there is a resolution soon.

"Love heals the world," Wilkerson said. "Love heals you, yourself, and your soul and you treat others how you want to be treated."

For the time being, only facilities in Missouri, Ohio, and Michigan are impacted by the strike.

Read Entire Article