With auto talks near deadline, UAW strike strategy targets selected plants

But even if there is a strike, it’s not clear whether the walkout will involve workers at any of the automakers’ plants in the Buffalo Niagara region.

That’s because the UAW isn’t planning a blanket strike at any of the automakers. Instead, it’s strategy is to stage selective strikes at targeted plants.

UAW President Shawn Fain will disclose at 10 p.m.  Thursday which plants where the UAW will go on strike, in the absence of tentative deals with General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler. 

GM has an engine plant in the Town of Tonawanda and a components plant in Lockport. Ford has a stamped parts plant in Hamburg. The UAW represents about 3,000 workers across the three facilities.

The union said its strategy – called a “Stand Up” strike – will keep the automakers guessing and add pressure to negotiations.

“Instead of striking all plants all at once, select locals will be called on to ‘Stand Up’ and walk out on strike,” the UAW said. “As time goes on, more locals may be called on to ‘Stand Up’ and join the strike. This gives us maximum leverage and maximum flexibility in our fight to win a fair contract at each of the Big Three automakers.”

“We’re going to hit where we need to hit,” Fain said in an online presentation Wednesday. “And when we need to hit, we’re going to hit to move mountains.”

Unionized workers at plants not selected to be part of a strike would continue working under the terms of what would become expired agreements on Friday, the UAW said.

Nonstriking locals “will be ready to walk out at a moment’s notice, pending direction from national leadership,” the union said.

The UAW said the option of going on strike…