(WWJ) – As the UAW strike against the Detroit Three automakers continues into a fourth week, some local auto workers say they're not happy with the union's current negotiation strategy.
As things stand, about 25,000 auto workers are currently on strike at five assembly plants and 38 distribution centers across the country.
The UAW's "Stand Up Strike" has come in waves over the last several weeks, but last Friday President Shawn Fain announced the union wouldn't be expanding the scope of its strike, as "significant progress" has been made in negotiations.
Some union members, however, are starting to become fed up with the strike as we approach a month since it began on Sept. 15.
Abram Allen, a quality control employee in the paint department at the Stellantis Jefferson North Plant in Detroit, told WWJ's Ryan Marshall he believes the strike "would have already been over" had Fain decided to shut down all plants at once.
"Don't let them make another dime without sharing it," Allen said. "They should be wanting to share it, Shawn. Make them share it, Shawn. That's exactly what I would tell him."
He says the automakers are making incredible amounts of money per every vehicle they sell, so he wishes the union would take more drastic measures.
"Close 'em all down, stop production everywhere and walk out," he said, noting he wants the companies to feel the same economic pain that families are feeling so they'll understand what's truly at stake.
On Monday – the 25th day of the strike – the Anderson Economic Group released new numbers surrounding the economic impact. The group estimates losses from the strike total at least $5.5 billion.
The report says workers have lost nearly $580 million in wages, while Ford, GM and Stellantis combined have lost nearly $2.7 billion. Meanwhile, suppliers and dealers have lost a combined $2.86 billion.
Ford on Monday announced more layoffs, with more than 70 workers at the Livonia Transmission plant being told not to report to work as a result of the strike at the Chicago Assembly Plant.
In total, Ford has laid off nearly 2,000 workers as a result of the ongoing strike. That number is at about 2,300 for GM, which laid off 70 workers at the Lansing Regional Stamping Plant on Monday.
In addition, GM says an additional 3,000 workers at auto suppliers have been off work as a result of the strike.
