UAW to expand strike on Detroit 3 US automakers

DETROIT, Sept 29 (Reuters): The United Auto Workers are set to expand their strike of Detroit Three factories and walk off the job at one additional assembly plant at General Motors, Ford and Stellantis , three sources familiar with the matter said Friday.
The plans are fluid and could change at any time, the sources said. The UAW declined comment.
UAW President Shawn Fain was set for a video address on Friday at 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT). However, the address had not started nearly 20 minutes after that scheduled time, raising the possibility that last-minute movement in talks could cause the UAW to modify its strike expansion plans.
On Thursday, the union made a counter-proposal to Stellantis. Talks among the UAW and negotiators for the Detroit Three were described as "very active" by one person briefed on the situation.
The UAW is expected to continue work stoppages currently under way until a new contract is ratified, a source familiar with the situation said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The strike is now entering its third week as the autoworkers push for higher wages and benefits and the elimination of a tiered standard that pays newer workers far less.
Automakers say the union's demands would hurt their profits as they try to compete with nonunion manufacturers like Tesla.
The union escalated the initial strike on Sept. 22, when workers walked off the job at General Motors and Stellantis distribution facilities in 20 states nationwide. It began on Sept. 15, when workers struck at one plant each from GM, Ford and Stellantis. The UAW did not strike at Ford distribution facilities, citing progress in talks with that company.
Headed into Friday, about 18,300 UAW members at the Detroit Three were on strike, or about 12% of the 146,000 union members working at the automakers. Strikers have been getting $500 a week from the UAW's strike fund.
The union previously shut one assembly plant at each of the Detroit Three, and 38 parts distribution centers at GM and Stellantis.
Ford shares lost 1% and GM shares were down 1.1% in trading Friday. Stellantis shares gained 0.6% in trading in Milan.
The effect of these walkouts has been relatively limited compared to the financial hit from halting assembly lines that build Ford F-series, Chevy Silverados and Ram trucks.