GM stops production at truck plant after supplier strike
UAW President Shawn Fain is proud of new contracts and looks to the future
UAW President Shawn Fain is proud of the work he and his members have accomplished, but looks forward to a future with an even stronger UAW membership.
General Motors halted production at its Wentzville, Missouri, assembly plant on Monday after unionized workers at a nearby seat supplier went on strike late Sunday.
GM builds its midsize pickups and vans at Wentzville Assembly, which employs about 4,600 people, according to the company’s website. It is one of GM’s most important plants and was one of the first plants the UAW struck last fall during its targeted so-called Stand Up strike.
On Monday, a GM spokesman told the Free Press that the automaker had sent third-shift workers home early because of a parts shortage and that the company was continuing to monitor the situation. But later that afternoon, spokesman Kevin Kelly said the automaker had shut down the plant.
“We can confirm that GM’s Wentzville Assembly Plant has been impacted by parts shortages due to a labor dispute at one of our suppliers. We hope both sides work quickly to resolve their issues so we can resume our regular production schedule to support our customers,” Kelly said in a statement.
The supplier is a Lear plant in Wentzville, where around 500 unionized workers assemble the seats for GM vehicles. Kelly said that no other GM plants were affected by the strike.
A Lear spokesperson sent the following statement to the Free Press and asked that it be attributed to the company:
“We have been negotiating in good faith with the UAW for some time to reach a new collective bargaining agreement for our seat assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri. Despite progress in negotiations, the union informed us last night of its decision to strike. Lear Corporation stands firm in its support of our employees and the communities in which we operate. With over 100 years of experience in the automotive industry, we are proud of our successful relationships with our employees and union partners. We remain committed to reaching an agreement that benefits all parties.”
Lear’s spokesman did not provide further details. The UAW provided the Free Press with a statement from Region 4 director Brandon Campbell blaming Lear for the Wentzville closure.
“Shame on Lear for failing to reach a fair settlement with the 500 members of UAW Local 282 who are now forced to strike for their fair share,” Campbell said. “The company had plenty of time to make things right, but instead spent a billion dollars on stock buybacks and dividends last year. Now Wentzville Assembly is on the ground because Lear refuses to negotiate a fair deal.”
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