united auto workers

By Larry Avila
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers

The effects of the United Auto Workers strike against General Motors Corp. at some point may reach Northeastern Wisconsin.

"The automotive industry has an extensive reach in our area more than just the auto dealerships," said Jerry Murphy, executive director of the New North Inc., an 18-county regional economic development organization. "When you look at the New North, we're looking at more like second-, third- or even fourth-tier suppliers."

United Auto Workers walked off the job at GM plants around the country in the first nationwide strike during auto contract negotiations since 1976.

GM's Janesville assembly plant's 2,800 workers usually make more than 1,000 sport utility vehicles per day, including the Chevy Suburban, Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon and GMC Denali, plant spokeswoman Mary Fanning said. She said she did not know how many workers had walked off the job and referred questions about the strike to GM's headquarters in Detroit.

Murphy said one of his tasks when New North launched was to inventory the region's businesses. According to New North's data, there are about 288 companies, employing about 23,400 people within its coverage area that potentially could supply the automotive industry. These businesses make an assortment of components, plastics and adhesives that could be used in vehicles.

If GM experiences an extensive strike and cannot make more vehicles, that's when the UAW strike will begin to effect suppliers, Murphy said.

Tom Wickham, a spokesman for GM in Detroit, said Tuesday that the company had an inventory of about 950,000 vehicles nationally. He would not speculate how long that supply would last.

The National Automobile Dealers Association projected that GM had about a 65-day supply of cars and trucks at the start of September.

Union members were scheduled to picket in six-hour shifts, with each member putting in one shift per week, said Brad Dutcher, first vice president of UAW Local 95 in Janesville.

If the strike lasts more than eight days, union members will receive a $200 per week strike benefit, Dutcher said. They do not qualify for unemployment or compensation from the company.

The UAW last struck GM in 1998.

DETROIT (AP)--A General Motors Corp. (GM) spokesman Tuesday said negotiators for the auto maker and the United Auto Workers have returned for their 22nd straight day of bargaining.

Workers walked off the job Monday morning after talks between the two sides bogged down.

The president of the union has said job security remains the primary concern as the union seeks guarantees of new vehicles for U.S. plants that would preserve jobs.

The UAW's Web site said striking workers will receive $200 a week plus medical benefits from the UAW's strike fund, which had more than $800 million as of last November.