Impacts of UAW Strike on Ford and General Motors Stocks

Introduction

The UAW Strike

The UAW strike officially commenced in the early hours of Friday morning, with the union initiating strike actions at three separate facilities, one for each automaker. General Motors' Wentzville Assembly in Missouri, Stellantis' Jeep assembly complex in Toledo, Ohio, and select departments in Ford's assembly plant near Detroit are currently affected by the strike.

According to sources, the UAW has confirmed that discussions with Ford were recommenced over the weekend and described the talks as "reasonably productive." However, no further details were provided regarding the nature or outcome of these discussions.

Stock Performance

In terms of stock performance, General Motors saw a 0.9% increase on Friday, and its stock is now pointing towards a further 0.4% uptick in premarket trading. On the other hand, Ford experienced a slight decline of 0.1% on Friday, and it is currently down by 0.2%, erasing its earlier gains. Meanwhile, shares in Stellantis fell by 1.3% ahead of the market opening, following a 2.2% climb on Friday.

Other Developments

Apart from the negotiations, investors are also considering several other developments that took place on Monday. One significant development is UAW President Shawn Fain's rejection of Stellantis' offer for a 21% pay increase, as revealed in an interview on CBS' Face the Nation on Sunday. Despite Stellantis making its offer public on Saturday, Fain firmly stated that the proposal was "definitely a no go."

Additionally, in response to the strikes, the automakers have implemented temporary layoffs. Ford announced on Friday that approximately 600 non-striking workers at its Michigan plant would be temporarily laid off. Similarly, General Motors stated that around 2,000 workers at its Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas could face unemployment until production resumes.

Read this for more information on the ongoing developments surrounding the UAW strike and the car manufacturers' responses.

Labor Dispute Hits Auto Industry as Union Strikes Continue

The recent labor strikes by United Auto Workers (UAW) have prompted layoffs and parts shortages at several major car manufacturers, including General Motors (GM), Stellantis, and Ford. The strikes, which have now entered their fourth day, are expected to cost the companies a combined $15 million in earnings per day, according to analyst Michael Ward. However, despite these disruptions, the impact on the industry has been relatively minimal.

While GM's Fairfax plant is expected to close due to parts shortages, other facilities may also join the strike at the request of the UAW. However, stock prices for the affected companies have remained largely unaffected since the strikes began. This lack of movement could be attributed to the fact that labor relations are considered a lesser concern in the long run compared to other challenges faced by auto manufacturers.

One of these challenges is the transition to electric and autonomous vehicles, which has led to uncertainty regarding the future of the industry. Stocks for Stellantis, GM, and Ford are currently trading at relatively low multiples of their projected 2024 earnings, indicating that the market perceives their future as highly uncertain.

Overall, while the labor strikes have temporarily disrupted operations and resulted in layoffs, the long-term concerns surrounding the auto industry's transition to new technologies have had a more significant impact on stock prices.