When last we saw our dueling parties, the UAW had voted to authorize a strike against Ford, GM, and Stellantis and was thoughtfully laying out what it would take from the companies not to walk off the job on the 14th of September.

Lots of cha-ching, for starters.

So…what exactly is the union going to the table with as far as demands go?

• 32-hour workweek

• 46 percent pay raise over 4 years

• Right to strike over plant closures

• Increased retiree benefits

• Defined pension plan for all workers

• Cost of living adjustments

The estimated damages for a contract of that magnitude would be about $80B – billion with a “B” – added to each of the automakers’ labor costs, and rocket those per hour costs at Ford and GM up from their $64 average now to over $150.

I believe my reaction was YOWSAHS

There must have been a similar reaction at GM once the choking fit was done, because their management came back with what probably seemed pretty generous to them, all things being considered.

General Motors on Thursday offered its largest four-year wage increase in decades as part of a new contract proposal to the United Auto Workers, as the automaker attempts to avoid another costly strike by its unionized workforce.

…The wage increase for most of GM’s roughly 46,000 UAW-represented workers would be 10%, while newer, or in-progression, employees would be eligible for up to a 56% increase in wages over the four years of the deal, the company announced Thursday after meeting with union leaders and negotiators. Temporary workers, who supplement full-time employees, would also receive 20% wage increases to roughly $20 an hour.

Under the current pay structure, UAW members start at about $18 an hour and have a “grow-in” period of four years to reach a top wage of more than $32 an hour.

GM’s proposed contract also includes two additional 3% lump-sum payments resulting in a total wage increase of 16%; $5,500 ratification bonus; $6,000 one-time inflation-recognition payment; and $5,000 in inflation-protection bonuses over the life of the agreement, which in-progression employees are eligible to receive.

Here's some details of @GM's offer to the @UAW, according to the company pic.twitter.com/dvjlAaXadC

— Michael Martinez (@MikeMartinez_AN) September 7, 2023

While handsome on its face, the GM offer was a good bit short of the initial 46% raise the union demanded besides missing a buttload of other things, and UAW president Sean Fain was quick to say , “Thank you, no.”

Well. Actually…

He shot back with more a version of “blow it out your tailpipe,” adding, for good measure, that he was “insulted.”

“After refusing to bargain in good faith for the past six weeks, only after having federal labor board charges filed against them, GM has come to the table with an insulting proposal that doesn’t come close to an equitable agreement for America’s autoworkers. GM either doesn’t care or isn’t listening when we say we need economic justice at GM by 11:59pm on September 14th. The clock is ticking. Stop wasting our members’ time. Tick tock.”

YOICKS

The United Auto Workers quickly rejected a General Motors offer of a 16% pay raise for the top wage earners in its plants and a 56% hike for newer employees who make less https://t.co/TfB9QfTPGV

— Bloomberg (@business) September 7, 2023

Everyone’s nose is out of joint from insults.

…The UAW filed complaints last week with the National Labor Relations Board citing unfair labor practices by GM and Stellantis, saying the two companies were bargaining in bad faith and delaying negotiations.

Both companies said they were surprised by the charges and denied the allegations. Stellantis called the complaint frivolous and a distraction, and GM said it was an insult to the bargaining committees.

For their part, Ford had tried to massage negotiations earlier by dropping some pre-strike cash on the union to, you know, sweeten the pot so to speak.

…Ford Motor Co. announced Thursday morning that nearly 8,000 United Auto Workers-represented employees “have been fast-tracked to higher earnings,” and some will earn $9,000 more per year. This comes as the automaker and the union have been discussing a new four-year labor agreement, as the current one expires next Thursday. UAW members have already voted in favor of a strike if no labor agreement is reached.

These employees will earn $4.33 more per hour, or $9,000 a year; some could earn more than $10,000 a year with overtime.

“The pay hikes were negotiated by Ford and the UAW in 2019 to shorten the time it takes workers to reach the average top wage rate of $32 an hour,” the automaker said.

Bryce Currie, Ford’s vice president of manufacturing, said the fast track to higher “pay raises” is an example of Ford’s commitment to improving the finances of its workforce.

The “Look at us lovin’ on you guys!” ploy went for naught. The union threw their offer back at them, too.

The stare-down continues and, unlike times past, the new union strategy is taking on all of the contracts at once, as opposed to picking one automaker to target, and use as a bludgeon against the others.

Alfred E. Neuman has his “What? Me worry?” face on and is headed to Rehoboth Beach…

United Auto Workers: President Biden says strike unlikely but UAW bargaining still ‘aggressive ‘ #ClimateStrike #ClimateBreakDown #ClimateCentral [Video] President Biden downplayed a potential UAW strike against the Big Three automakers (F, GM, STLA),… https://t.co/ucTF9crGwy

— Asha Fassbender (@FassbenderENG) September 6, 2023

…so not much negotiating help from that quarter, not that there would be anyway. We have an acting Labor Secretary – wonder what she’s up to?

OMG

NEVER MIND

“Tick, tock, tick, tock” it is.