(Reuters) - The United Auto Workers (UAW) and Ford Motor (NYSE:F) have narrowed their differences on pay increases after a new offer from the automaker amid "really active" talks, people familiar with the bargaining among the Detroit Three automakers and the union said on Wednesday.
UAW President Shawn Fain plans to update the union's 150,000 members at Ford, General Motors (NYSE:GM) and Chrysler parent Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) As the union's strike against the 'Detroit Three' enters its 21st day, here is a timeline of events beginning with the election of Fain in March: Date Development March 25 Shawn Fain wins the race for UAW president; vows to take a tough stance against the Big Three automakers. July 10 The union says it will open contract talks with Detroit's Big Three automakers starting July 13. July 11 Fain says the union is not afraid to hold a strike at any of the automakers without a fair contract. July 19 Fain meets President Joe Biden at the White House as the union briefed the staff on contract talks with the automakers. Aug. 1 The UAW presents demands to Stellantis, says the union is seeking ambitious benefit increases from the Detroit Three, including double-digit pay rises and defined-benefit pensions for all workers. Aug. 2 The union presents contract demands to General Motors Aug. 3 The union presents contract demands to Ford Aug. 8 Fain angrily tosses contract proposals from Stellantis in a trash can, citing numerous concessions that the Chrysler parent is seeking in labor talks. Aug. 25 The UAW says 97% of voting members were in favor of authorizing a strike at the Detroit Three if an agreement is not reached before Sept. 14. Aug. 31 The union says it has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against GM and Stellantis, saying they have refused to bargain in good faith. Aug. 31 Ford makes a contract offer to the UAW, providing hourly employees with 15% guaranteed combined wage increases, lumpsum payments and improved benefits over the life of the contract Sept. 1 The NLRB says it will investigate unfair labor practice charges filed by the UAW union against GM and Stellantis. Sept 6 The UAW makes a labor contract counterproposal on economic issues to Ford Sept. 7 GM makes counteroffer to the UAW that includes a 10% wage hike and two additional 3% annual lumpsum payments over four years. Fain calls the offer "insulting." Sept. 8 Stellantis says it offered U.S. hourly workers a 14.5% wage hike over four years but no lumpsum payments. Sept. 8 Fain says the UAW union wants a deal to avoid walkouts at the Detroit Three, but expects to go on strike against all of them next week if they do not improve their contract offers. Sept. 11 Stellantis says it plans to make a new counteroffer to the UAW after the union made its own revised offer on Sunday ahead of the expiration of the current four-year labor deal Thursday night. Sept. 13 The UAW rejected counteroffers from the automakers and outlined plans for strikes targeting individual U.S. auto plants in what would be its first-ever simultaneous strike against the Detroit Three. Sept. 15 The UAW launched simultaneous strikes that will halt production of some popular models at three factories owned by GM, Ford and Stellantis. Sept. 16 Negotiators for the UAW and Ford had "reasonably productive discussions" toward a new contract, while officials at Stellantis said a proposal to resume work at an idled Illinois factory has fallen through. Sept. 18 On the fourth day of the strike, UAW said it would announce on Sept. 22 more plants to strike if no serious progress was made in talks, adding to pressure on the Detroit Three automakers. Sept. 19 UAW members picketing in Michigan and Ohio urged union leaders to hold firm on their biggest demands on pay hikes and compensation as the strike hits its fifth day. Sept. 20 UAW said 190 workers went on strike at Mercedes-supplier ZF's plant in Alabama, demanding higher pay and better healthcare benefits. Sept. 22 UAW will expand its strikes against GM and Stellantis, but has made real progress in talks with Ford Motor, the union said. Sept 24. Ford said that despite progress in some areas, it still has "significant gaps to close" on key economic issues before it can reach a new labor agreement with the UAW union. Sept. 28 The UAW made a new counter-proposal to Stellantis, just one day before it is set to strike additional Detroit Three automotive facilities without serious progress in ongoing labor negotiations. Sept. 29 The UAW will walk off the job at an additional plant at General Motors and at Ford, said Fain. The new strike will not extend to Stellantis, which called before the scheduled 10 a.m. ET announcement to make significant changes in its contract proposal. Ford CEO Jim Farley accused the Sept. 29 union of holding up a new U.S. labor agreement in a bid to force the automaker to pay workers at new battery plants the same top wages as workers at assembly plants.
GM and Ford said they are laying
Oct.2 off another 500 workers at four Midwestern
plants because of the impact on some of the
facilities of the UAW strike. Separately, the
UAW confirmed it presented a new contract
offer to GM. GM said it has received the
counterproposal "but significant gaps
remain."
Ford said it had made a new
Oct. 3 contract offer to resolve a 19-day-old
targeted strike but said a dispute over
battery plants remained unresolved. Ford said
the new offer boosted wages for temporary
workers, increased company 401(k)
contributions and had further shrunk time
needed to get to the top wage rate.