Manufacturing

Autoworkers Strike Against Ford, GM, Stellantis

Nearly 13,000 autoworkers have gone on strike after the union and automakers failed to reach a deal on a new labor contract.

September 15, 2023

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Kokomo – Circa June 2022: UAW local. The United Auto Workers is a labor union that represents Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers.

For the first time, workers at three major car manufacturers have gone on strike simultaneously after parties failed to reach a new labor contract.

Nearly 13,000 workers a part of the United Auto Workers union have walked out following the expiration of their previous contract on Thursday at 11:59 p.m. UAW members of the following car assembly plants are on strike:

  • GM Wentzville Assembly in Wentzville, Missouri. Workers here build the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon mid-size trucks and Chevy Express and GMC Savana full-size vans.
  • Stellantis Toledo Assembly Complex in Toledo, Ohio. Workers here build the Jeep Gladiator, Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler 4xe. 
  • Ford Michigan Assembly Plant (final assembly and paint) in Wayne, Michigan. Workers here build Ford Ranger and Ford Bronco vehicles.

In a White House Briefing broadcast live on Sept. 15, President Joe Biden remarked on the contract negotiations between the United Auto Workers and the “Big 3” auto companies. He said while no one wants a strike, he understands the workers’ frustrations. 

“Record corporate profits should be shared by record contracts for the UAW,” Biden said.

He said he is dispatching Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and White House Senior Adviser Gene Sperling to Detroit to aid in negotiations.

Vesna Brajkovic

Senior Editor

Vesna Brajkovic was a business journalist and the Senior Editor of Modern Distribution Management (MDM), the editorial and research department of NAW until October 2026. She joined MDM’s editorial team in 2023 after covering transportation and related industries as a trade magazine editor for seven years. At MDM, she provides in-depth market analysis and insights for the wholesale distribution sector through Premium-member content, including through articles, podcasts, research reports and more. She also serves as a co-host of the MDM Podcast and a moderator at NAW events and webinars.

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