Both sides in the long strike at General Motors by the United Autoworkers Union agree on one thing, the labor deal is only 5% of the product cost to the company.
While that number is low, the stakes are high on both sides.
For the union, the issues are wages, temporary workers moving to full-time status, in-progression workers making traditional wages, health care, profit sharing, product allocation.
For GM, the issues are an uncertain economy, tariffs, and billions in investment in electric and self-driving vehicles.
About a dozen workers from the GM Powertrain plant in Toledo came to the GM Headquarters in downtown to put their fight on the doorstep of CEO Mary Barra, what they call Monday’s with Mary. She personally entered the talks meeting with leaders on both sides on Wednesday.
Progress in talks last week was reported as good, then back and then uncertain. Talks are continuing, but still have not gone around the clock.
