(WWJ) – It's been nearly a month since the UAW went on strike, demanding better wages, benefits and more from the Detroit Three automakers.
In that time, the union has rejected multiple contract offers from Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. The union rejected what UAW President Shawn Fain was a repeat offer from Ford on Wednesday and expanded the strike, with 8,700 workers walking off the job in Kentucky.
That brings the total number of striking UAW workers to more than 33,000 across the country. And with many of them being right here in Metro Detroit, WWJ's Zach Clark looks into just how the strike is impacting the Michigan economy on a new Daily J podcast.
WWJ Business Editor Murray Feldman says the impact being felt in Michigan goes beyond just Ford, GM and Stellantis because of the number of auto suppliers and auto-related businesses across the state.
"It has an impact in a number of different ways. It has an impact on families; they're not making the money they used to make, so they're re-evaluating their budgets and their spending," Feldman said. "It has an impact on the local economy because there's a slow down going on and a lot of plants are not operating anymore."
Jobless claims in Michigan have nearly doubled since the start of the strike, according to Feldman. To make matters worse, Feldman says those who have been laid off by one of the companies being struck cannot receive unemployment benefits.
Some believe Wednesday's UAW escalation is a sign we're getting close to the end. Will the Detroit Three give in to the union's demands? Or will strike fatigue stall out union stubbornness?
