Last week we were surprised to learn that there were still ongoing negotiations between management at the Corvette Assembly Plant and the UAW Local 2164 over their local contract. It turns out that the last national UAW strike back in 2019 failed to resolve some of the local issues for workers at the Bowling Green facility, and that impasse recently resulted in the workers overwhelmingly approving a Strike Authorization.
Local UAW contracts typically cover working conditions and other targeted local issues while the national UAW contract focuses on pay and benefits.
After another session of negotiations fell through, the UAW voted on January 10th with 98% of the plant’s production workers and 97% of skilled trades workers voting to reject the latest offer from the plant’s management, and with that also came the strike authorization vote.
“The arrogance really is frustrating because the demands that we haven’t satisfactorily settled are not egregious in nature, especially during economic good times,” said Jason Watson, shop chairman of UAW Local 2164, which represents the Bowling Green Assembly hourly workforce. “We’re not in a recession.”
That Strike Authorization vote doesn’t mean that the workers will be walking off their posts at the factory anytime soon. A recent article in the Detroit Free Press shared quotes from UAW leadership in Bowling Green including UAW Local 2164 president Brian Ferrett who reiterated their position that workers could strike if they can’t get an acceptable deal done. However, they would still need approval from the UAW Region 8 as well as the UAW International before any walkout occures.
The four outstanding issues that the local 2164 UAW shop wants to settle include:
- To commit to using UAW members for contracted jobs such as 3D printing, maintenance work, and striping of cars, all currently done by outside companies.
- To commit to build future Corvettes, including a possible electric version, at Bowling Green.
- To commit to using Local 2164 skilled trade workers in the Performance Build Center, the department in the plant where GM makes performance motors for the Corvette Z06, the Cadillac Blackwing series for the CT4 and CT5 sports sedans, and performance Camaro muscle cars.
- To commit to a higher pay rate for certain job classifications in the plant that require additional knowledge and skill to perform.
“When you fit the quarter panels, roof, the doors on … it’s a Corvette and it definitely has to meet certain standards so that we keep our customers happy,” Watson said. “Ensuring we’re making a quality product is absolutely high on our priority list. But to get that all right, takes special skill.”
“We absolutely do not want a strike,” Watson said. “However, when management continues to very reluctantly or satisfactorily settle these issues, then they’re going to remain on the bargaining table.”
Negotiations at the bargaining table resumed last week.
Should GM and the UAW Local 2164 come to an agreement for a local contract, it will only be in force through September 2023 when it would expire. In the meantime, Watson says he and Ferrett are hoping for compromise on both sides.
“We want to see success for the company we work for,” Watson said. “But, for our workforce, we want to have continued success and jobs at the plant and job security too.”
Source:
Detroit Free Press
Related:
Corvette Assembly Plant Workers Reject Local Labor Contract, Strike Authorized
[VIDEO] Corvette Assembly Plant Resumes Operations as UAW Returns to Work
The Strike is Over as UAW Members Agree to New Four Year Labor Deal with GM
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why wouldn’t they at least commit to keeping Bowling Green as the site to build Corvettes?
How about the obvious undisclosed 5th demand:
To drive up production costs to ensure the Corvette assembly plant is shuttered just like most of the other former GM plants throughout Michigan or the closed breweries in Wisconsin. Perhaps the unemployed folks in the Midwest rust belt may have an opinion or two about the current “demands”.
These demands in their basic form are common sense for any company, so one can come to conclude that there is more behind this that we are not privy to but that Guido & Rocco at UAW are not happy with.
I am at status 3000 and just got my TPW slot. Build my car!!!
Agreed, DT
Demands? Sounds more like extortion.
1. Commit to using UAW members for contracted jobs – If the assembly workers can bid on these, I think GM should consider it.
2. Commit to build future Corvettes at Bowling Green – Hmmmm, this is a GM corporate decision, based on lots of factors. Not sure the union can realistically discuss this.
3. Commit to using Local 2164 skilled trade workers in the PBC – same as #1 – if the workers have those skills, they ought to be able to bid for them.
4. Commit to a higher pay rate for skilled tasks – well, sure. That makes sense – but will the national UAW think this is more in their purview?
I am a union worker for 40 years and still going strong. UAW had better be careful or Mary will ship the Corvette to Mexico to be built next the Blazer, which everyone thought was going to be built in the shuttered Cruze plant.
Now how much are these people making Now not to mention all the benefits? Just like teamsters local 745 for Safeway in Garland when I worked there, couldn’t Fire the sorry ones and they asked for Too Much so they broke the union and closed down!!! Better watch what you ask for, your not the Only laborers in town !!!
Just be happy you have a job and are employed! So many people these days unfortunately are not.
I bought the ‘Baby Book” with my C8 which shows pictures of my actual car as its being constructed and moving down the line. Referring to #4 on the list – I believe these increased and new skills required: “When you fit the quarter panels, roof, the doors on … it’s a Corvette and it definitely has to meet certain standards so that we keep our customers happy,” are already paid for with the Million Dollar plus robots that actually hold the door, gap it correctly, and mount it for you. Same with the seats. There were actually two people installing the removable roof!!! Something all of us do by ourselves. Be careful UAW.
The union killed Hostess in CA. They DEMANDED and the profits weren’t there. Closed the plant everyone lost jobs.
Fire all union employees hire non union problem solved.
I worked for CSEA as I was IT. The unions are crooks. I worked hard but they promoted good ol boys. People who would play cards and drink during work hours and do their work at 1.5 time on weekends.
Screw these people. Shut down hire non union or move plant out of state
What is the deadline for the strike? When would it begin if they can’t agree?
I think it would be a hell of a lot easier to replace a cupcake maker than a skilled auto maker.
In similar fashion to Max Carguy…
Agree completely on 1
#2) This isn’t quite as cut and dried. Because the current (no pun) move is to all electric, all cars… And if they are not going to build electric variants of the Vette in Bowling Greene that is like saying you won’t have a job soon. I don’t think that it is a “Pride” thing that Vettes are only supposed to be built in BG. Not saying there isn’t that pride…just that I don’t think the “pride” is the focus. I mean aside from the Z06 5.5 the engines are built in Buffalo (Tonawanda Plant)
Agree completely on 3 as well as 4
But the thing that got me is the comment about it being good economic times….Says who???? Inflation is through the roof and only getting worse…Jobs are out there but no one wants to work…the Pandemic still looms over this and the worlds economy….I don’t know about you guys but my grocery bills more than doubled as well as my gas and just about anything else I want to buy. My salary certainly didn’t double….That doesn’t sound like good economic times…
That is meant to say that outside of the 5.5L Z06 engine……the Vettes engines are built in Buffalo…
a very good example of what a union can do to a business…the United States Post Office…between forced hiring practices and the union , they opened the doors to UPS & FedEx..and , but for the billions of Tax dollars giving to the PO , every year , they would be BR/Out of Business
Please GM don’t cave to these cry babies. Fire ALL of them and start over. Hell they can be replaced in a week with people that WANT to work!! At Half the price
Pete314 Well said about the economy. We are headed to much more difficult times due to policies from a government that is out of control on there spending. The economy could shut down very quick as they continue to want to push an agenda that is high taxes, inflation going through the roof, interest rates started in chip higher and higher all this means is a job to go away simply because of a contraction in the economy. These are difficult times and we’re lucky to have jobs. I would like to know what they get paid for what they do. There are so many factors that hurt businesses especially small businesses. Large businesses like GM are having more and more difficulty navigating all the regulations and costs that are put on them. Sure pay the more , but what will happen to the cost of the car? There’s always people who can afford the car but not the type of demand that were seen now if cost we’re good to go Sky high and interest rates sky high that is not a good recipe for success with the demands that they’re asking.
PS I’m in California and things are not looking great specially because Newsom just proposed even more taxes for the pay for all healthcare costs including illegals we are out of control here in California these factors will affect the economy. Just adding information it’s amazing how we want to strike think in the economy is really great when it’s not it’s very weak right now. I know this because this is my business. Hope things work out and they can come to a compromise it’s reasonable that is also healthy financially.
I have a demand… get back to work or find another job. That’s what my employer would say and I’m fine with that, plenty of other jobs for skilled workers out there. Unions are ridiculous.
Answer to all questions should be NO! Now either get back to work or get out! You pricks have screwed up production of this car enough already!
Sounds like there isn’t a whole lot of love for the union boys, so let’s all get back to work. Thinking maybe everyone is fed up with crybabies and karens. For the folks working in BG, you’ve got the job you applied for, so do it and quit crying.
Boom @Daniel
Nuff said.
The UAW better be careful and actually consider the ramifications of a strike in these times.
GM, if the mafiosos authorize this crap and people walk, here is how to solve it…quickly:
1. Organize a hiring event; conduct on-the-spot interviews
2. Hold it at the NCM…in direct view of the workers picketing on Corvette Blvd
3. Watch how many cross the picket line to keep their jobs
4. Problem solved
My employer did something very similar with the International Aerospace Machinists union a few years back. Over 75% of the picketers crossed the line; the strike ended in less than 2 days.
This is the Way
THE UAW HAS A MONOPOLY, AND THEY CAN SHUT DOWN ALL OF GM’S PLANTS IN THE U.S., JUST LIKE THEY DID IN 2019 FOR 40 DAYS, AND COST GM 2.1 BILLION.
THE TEAMSTERS UNION HELPED MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
GM LOST BILLIONS IN SALES OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS BECAUSE OF PLANT SHUT DOWNS, DUE TO PARTS SHOTAGES, AND UNION EMPLOYEES STILL GOT PAID.
THEY GET AT LEAST $50 AN HOUR WHEN YOU COUNT ALL THEIR BENEFITS.
Who’s who-in’ who?????? The GM leadership team got GM into this predicament and the GM leadership team will assuredly make decisions that perpetuate their predicament; costly as it may be. And then they will do what they’ve always done……… shutter the plant!
Oh gosh, don’t try to speak with Mary Barra…
She’s give $20 Million Dollar Bonuses just for her Acting and Lying. Her salary is far less. Just goes to show what her true value is.
I did the tour thru the plant years ago, nobody there really looked like they were busting their asses, machines assisted in most of the operations, tires went onto a machine that lifted them up, where the worker just guided them on, then a machine with the lug nuts torqued all 5 on at once, after that they waited for the next car, most of the line was like this.
Unions are going to be the death of the American economy.
We all want the best possible car at the lowest possible price. Unions produce neither.
Got to laugh at the majority of these comments. They have all the answers don’t they! Sounds like a bunch of spoiled children that are on a list to get their toy and not receiving it. Go ahead let’s fire all of them let’s ship the production to Mexico hire non union labor then let’s see the quality of the Corvette. No more the American sport car
Got to laugh at the majority of these comments. They have all the answers don’t they! Sounds like a bunch of spoiled children that are on a list to get their toy and not receiving it. Go ahead let’s fire all of them let’s ship the production to Mexico hire non union labor then let’s see the quality of the Corvette. No more the American sport car. Must be a liberal comment section. I’m being censored
I really think there is a bigger picture. GM as a company has a very poor chance of surviving the next ten years. This is a company that has been in business over 100 years and still owes over 110 billion dollars with no way to pay it back! GM sold 26 electric vehicles in year 2021 in the US! They came out with the electric Bolt and it has been a total disaster. The Bolt factory has been shut down since last year and may possible reopen in February. This will cost GM billions. How does something so poorly made get out of the factory? The answer is it goes from design to the consumer with no real world testing. A few years back GM and Ford stop making car and the reason was no one was buying cars. The real story was no one was buying their cars. About a year ago I went from Rochester, MN to Minneapolis, MN and just for fun counted the cars I met on the other side of the four lane. In that 90 mile one and half hour trip I met 193 cars. So today when the younger population wants to purchase less expensive transportation where do they go? It will not be to a GM dealership. Just sit in a GM dealership and watch who comes in it is shocking. GM has lost one whole generation of customers and don’t even know it! GM has recently stopped paying shareholder dividends another sign they are in severe financial trouble are stock holders now just suppose to give their capital to GM? Their $50 stock sure isn’t worth anything. The management cost per vehicle is way to high. Want proof just look at corporate headquarters in Detroit it is just on real. Tesla must not have got the memo is Elon still sleeping on the factory floor? GM only has a 17% market share left and was past by Toyota in 2021 as the largest car supplier in the US. As for the Unions I have nothing against Unions but I would strongly suggest you take a tour of a modern manufacturing facility. They are full of robots and they can do anything you can. So as far as lining up those doors I have a $100,000.00 2016 ZO6 and the drive’s door has never line up since new. I complained To GM but never got any response from the dealer or GM. Buying GM stock is not investing it is gambling.
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