The three U.S. automakers say they are already at a disadvantage to nonunion rivals while labor leaders hope that big gains in negotiations will inspire workers in Southern states to unionize.
The executive chairman of Ford Motor counsels patience as his company negotiates with the United Automobile Workers union, which has shut three of his company’s plants.
The United Automobile Workers union refrained from expanding the strikes at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis but said it could do so at any time.
The company said it had reached the limit of what it could offer to the United Automobile Workers union, which has expanded its strike to Ford’s largest plant.
The United Automobile Workers said on Friday it had secured an important concession from General Motors regarding the contracts of workers at battery factories.
As electric vehicles usher in a new era for the car economy and workers strike against rooted manufacturers, Neal E. Boudette is in Motor City to cover it all.
The company cited concerns about operating the factory competitively. It’s not clear if the pause is linked to its dispute with the United Auto Workers.
Their responses obscure the nature of the conflict.
Elon Musk, the Tesla chief executive, may be able to exploit his rivals’ weaknesses, but the United Auto Workers union also has the electric carmaker in its sights.
Experts on unions and the industry said the U.A.W. strike could accelerate a wave of worker actions, or stifle labor’s recent momentum.