UAW got a good deal from GM, labor leaders, experts say
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Here are manufacturing wins listed in the agreement:
- Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant: Electric truck and van assembly, including assembly of battery modules. It is approximately a $3 billion investment and 2,225 new jobs at full volume.
- Warren Tech Center: A new vehicle program, $200 million investment and retention of approximately 75 jobs.
- Lansing Delta and Spring Hill, Tennessee, assembly plants: Next generation midsize SUV assembly; $1 billion, 5,000 jobs.
- $2 billion investment in U.S. plant refurbishment
GM winsHere's what GM got out of the agreement, labor experts said:
- It keeps the three plants closed.
- GM has dramatically expanded its Mexican operations over the last five years, giving it a source of low wage advantage. That remains intact.
- GM overall will be very profitable with this agreement because it retains a highly skilled, productive workforce and still has flexibility left in its plants.
The big wins for the union, according to labor experts:
- Health care: The benefit remains intact with no added costs to workers.
- Wage increase: The members are guaranteed a 3% wage increase and 4% lump sum increases in alternating years. The ceiling was removed on profit-sharing too.
- Temps and in-progression workers: There is a pathway for temps to become permanent workers and for newer hires to reach a full wage in a faster time. That top wage was increased to $32.32 per hour, as well.
- Detroit-Hamtramck: Labor experts said this plant, site of the once-revolutionary but ultimately underselling Chevrolet Volt, should have idled as was planned. “That plant is sort of lucky it survived through the last contract," said U-M's Gordon. "The union did just fine.”
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