After a grueling six-week standoff, the United Auto Workers (UAW) has reached a groundbreaking labor agreement with General Motors (GM). This news comes after resolving disputes with Ford and Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, signaling a turning point in the largest auto industry strike in recent history.

According to reports from Reuters and The Wall Street Journal, the UAW and General Motors reached a preliminary agreement on October 30, officially putting an end to the six-week-long strike. It is reported that the UAW has successfully secured wage increases from General Motors similar to those obtained from Ford and Stellantis.

Over a four-year period, the average wage increase reaches 25%, and retirement benefits receive additional enhancements. When including other allowances, the maximum wage increase reaches 33%. The details are subject to approval by union members’ vote.

In response to the agreement, GM’s CEO, Barbara, stated that the new terms would enable the company to continue investing while offering well-compensated employment. She eagerly anticipates the return of all employees to their workstations.

The UAW initiated localized strikes against the three automotive giants – GM, Ford, and Stellantis – starting on September 15. These strikes grew in scale over time, primarily targeting larger and more profitable factories to exert pressure on the management. At Its Peak, Nearly 50,000 People Joined the Strike, with President Biden Personally Expressing Support by Visiting the Strike Sites.

The lengthy strike has finally concluded, bringing a sigh of relief to automakers. However, it has had a significant financial impact, with both General Motors and Ford canceling their annual earnings forecasts. General Motors estimates the strike resulted in approximately $200 million in losses each week.

Analysts anticipate that the new labor agreement will substantially increase production costs for the big three automakers, potentially undermining their competitiveness against union-free electric vehicle manufacturers like Tesla and foreign brands such as Toyota.

Notably, the union has secured greater influence over capital decisions during negotiations, including the power to initiate strikes when a manufacturer contemplates plant closures.

While the three major automakers currently express their intent to keep existing factories operational during their transition towards electric vehicles, contractual constraints may force them to continue running unprofitable facilities in times of economic downturn or declining sales.

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