The three largest US carmakers and the union representing more than 400,000 of their workers are squaring off for negotiations that industry watchers expect to be the most contentious in years.
Representatives of Ford, General Motors, Stellantis and the United Auto Workers are meeting this week in Detroit to start the next stage of negotiations on a new contract for hourly workers.
Both sides are grappling with how increasing electrification will affect the industry’s workforce. After a historic election at the union swept in a new president determined to restore benefits lost in the wake of the Great Recession of 2007-09, the UAW is calling it “our generation’s defining moment”.