Auto: UAW Launches Targeted Strike; What Next?

At midnight, approximately 12,700 United Auto Workers (UAW) members went on strike at plants operated by General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis following the expiration of its four-year labor contracts. While the UAW’s targeted “stand-up strike” represents the first-ever simultaneous strike of the Detroit Three, the walkout represents less than 9% of the union’s total membership but will likely create logistical headaches for automakers. We think the UAW’s decision to launch targeted strikes is intended to put the automakers on the defensive from an operational standpoint and help preserve its $850 million strike fund