What's at stake as 13,000 workers go on strike at major US auto makers
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Transcript
00:00 As midnight passed in Detroit and still no deal, auto workers geared up for what's being
00:07 called unprecedented industrial action.
00:11 Tonight for the first time in our history we will strike all three of the big three
00:17 at once.
00:19 The United Auto Workers Union has planned targeted strike action, hitting one assembly
00:24 plant per company in the first instance.
00:27 The first sites to be affected are a General Motors van manufacturing plant in Missouri,
00:32 a Ford SUV and pickup truck factory in Michigan and a Stellantis Jeep factory in Ohio.
00:39 Action could be scaled up based on the status of negotiations.
00:43 The union's demands include a 36% hourly pay rise over four years, reduced working hours,
00:49 changes to pensions and a clause to increase workers' wages against inflation.
00:54 Members voted overwhelmingly for strike action if no deal was found by midnight on Thursday
00:59 when their four-year contracts expired.
01:01 "We're proud, standing up for ourselves.
01:04 It needed to happen, it's our time, the world is watching.
01:07 It's time to reclaim some of the stuff that the people from the past have lost.
01:12 It's our time."
01:13 Amid a cost of living crisis, recent polling showed that the UAW have enjoyed the support
01:18 of 75% of Americans during this labour dispute and a majority would support the strike.
01:24 But the big three bosses remain categorical.
01:27 "40% would put us out of business.
01:30 That's not a reasonable request."
01:34 Ford and General Motors last offer stood at 20% and they say the union has not responded
01:39 with a counter-proposal.
01:40 But with the Detroit Three turning combined profits of over $20 billion in the first half
01:46 of the year, the union wants to see them dig deeper.
01:49 The fight threatens to trigger higher prices for buyers and major disruption for the auto
01:53 industry giants.