According to the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, talks with significant automakers reportedly led to the authorization of a strike on Friday.
According to a union press statement, the union’s 150,000 autoworkers voted 97% in support of going on strike as talks with the Big Three automakers, which include Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, continue.
In addition to other demands, the union is calling for defined benefit pensions, retiree healthcare, wage increases to keep up with inflation, and the abolition of pay tiers.
The vote is a component of talks with the Big Three on the contracts of union employees, all of which are due to expire on September 14.
With a total wage loss to union workers of $859 million, the estimated economic loss that may occur over just 10 days of a total strike was determined to be $5.6 billion.
The authorisation received three separate votes from each major automaker, with Ford receiving 98% of the vote, General Motors receiving 96%, and Stellantis receiving 95%.
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