Strike strips workers of nearly $1B in lost wages

A 38-day strike against GM has been expensive.

A just-released report says that lost worker wages due to the United Auto Workers’ strike against General Motors are approaching $1 billion nationally, with GM’s own losses approaching $2 billion.

The strike continues to affect hundreds of DMAX and Navistar workers in Moraine and Springfield, respectively, as well as many auto dealers and body shops who are grappling with a shortage of inventory and parts.

According to a report from East Lansing, Mich.-based Anderson Economic Group, GM has shouldered $1.75 billion in operating losses for the strike.

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And direct wage losses for all employees have reached $989 million.

That may be countered by $485 million in potential settlement payments to UAW workers — if a proposed contract is ratified.

Meanwhile, the strike continues, and it’s unclear when it may end. A UAW Local unit of GM workers in Spring Hill, Tenn., near Nashville, rejected the tentative contract agreement by seven votes in a recent vote.

Nationwide, votes cast by more than 48,000 autoworkers will be totaled by Friday, determining whether the proposed contract has passed — and whether the walkout will end.

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