Striking union demands GM import no cars to U.S., even from Canada

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Marking its 24^th day of striking against General Motors, the UAW is calling for the company to halt the import of all cars from foreign assembly plants as part of its demands. Right now, GM brings in vehicles for sale in the U.S. from several other countries, including Canada.

Furthermore, UAW brass doesn’t want The General to put emphasis on electric and autonomous vehicle production.

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This epithet is puzzling, since both of those segments are arguably the future of the automotive industry. To not embrace them seems akin to demanding a contractor build one’s house out of straw while standing in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius because “that’s the way we’ve always done it.”

The Detroit Free Press reports that UAW and GM bargaining agents were at the table until 3:00 a.m. Thursday morning before taking a recess and returning to talks mid-morning. About 46,000 GM union workers have been striking since 12:01 a.m. on September 16.

In a letter to union members, UAW’s lead GM negotiator Terry Dittes said “We have made it clear that there is no job security for us when GM products are made in other countries for the purpose of selling them here in in the U.S.A.”

This could prove troublesome for production that currently remains at Canadian facilities. Earlier this year, GM announced a $170-million investment in its Oshawa plant, transitioning the place from manufacturing to stamping, sub-assembly, and — autonomous vehicle testing. It would seem the UAW’s double-barrelled demands – more American assembly and binning autonomy – are aimed, at least in part, at Canada.

Vehicle assembly in Mexico, of course, is a major bone of contention. Several of the company’s SUVs and crossovers – such as the Equinox and Blazer – are made south of the Rio Grande. GM’s announcement it’s ‘unallocating’ product to a number of plants last year has added several gallons of accelerant to this particular fire.

Talking heads are split on whether GM would be able to weather hauling all of its production out of labour-cheap Mexico. The UAW’s demand that RenCen abandon its EV and AV plans shines a particularly harsh light on the uncomfortable fact those types of machines generally have fewer parts and require fewer people to assemble.

Will the Motor City continue to run if that motor is electric? Only time – and, apparently, union negotiations – will tell.