General Motors and the United Auto Workers union could be close to an agreement which would end the strike which has been going on for nearly two weeks.
According to sources who talked to CNBC, talks have intensified in the past few days and it appears the two sides are coming closer to settling their differences.
UAW Vice President Terry Dittes alluded to this yesterday as he informed union members that “All unsettled proposals are now at the main table and have been presented to General Motors.” While that doesn’t sound too important, CNBC said this means issues are no longer in subcommittees and that implies a deal could be imminent.
Also Read: GM Employees Strike After Failed Trade Union Negotiations
That remains unconfirmed, but their sources suggested a tentative deal could be hours or days away depending on how far apart the two sides are on issues such as pay and the use of temporary workers. Regardless, Dittes’ said the back and forth negotiations will continue until the bargaining committee is “satisfied that we have achieved an agreement that properly addresses our members’ concerns.”
Even if a deal if reached, it doesn’t mean the strike will come to an immediate end. The proposed agreement has to be presented to the GM-UAW council and then approved by members. CNBC says that process typically takes two weeks, but could be expedited if workers continue striking during the voting process.
There have been signs the two sides have been warming to one another as GM reversed course and agreed to provide health benefits to striking workers yesterday. As Scott Sandefur explained in a letter to Dittes, “We want all of our employees to know that their health and well-being are our top priority,” so “GM has chosen to work with our providers to keep all benefits fully in place for striking hourly employees, so they have no disruption to their medical care, including vision, prescription and dental coverage.”
Despite the concession, Dittes described the initial cancellation of benefits as a “shameful act.” He also accused the company of “toying with the lives of hundreds of thousands of our UAW families.”
The strike has already had a significant impact on GM and analysts believe it is costing the automaker between $50-100 (£40-81 / €46-91) million every day. It has also affected operations outside the United States as the GM Canada was forced to layoff 1,200 employees at the Oshawa assembly plant who build the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups.
