With GM vote secured, UAW eyes ratification from US automakers Ford, Stellantis

HOUSTON–With nearly 55% of unionised General Motors (GM) workers voting to ratify the new labour contract this week, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union now shifts its attention to Ford and Stellantis, with current vote totals indicating the deal should pass comfortably.

According to vote trackers on the UAW website, Ford hourly employees have voted 67% to 33% in favor of ratification, and almost 70% of Stellantis hourly workers have voted to ratify the deal.

Salaried union workers at both companies, which are a much smaller percentage of total employees than the hourly workers, have voted in even higher numbers to accept the deal.

Some union locals voted against ratification, but while each individual local votes on the tentative deal, it is the total combined vote from membership across all locals that determines if it is accepted or not.

The Big Three automakers – Ford, GM and Chrysler parent Stellantis – reached tentative agreements late last month with the union to end the six-week strike.

IMPACT ON CHEMICALS
The petrochemical industry is closely monitoring the situation as the auto and truck sector is a major consumer of petrochemicals that make up more than one-third of the raw material costs of an average vehicle.

US motor vehicle and parts output fell by 10% month on month in October because of the UAW strikes against the Detroit Big Three automakers, according to the US Federal Reserve on Thursday.

The automotive sector drives demand for chemicals such as polypropylene (PP), along with nylon, polystyrene (PS), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), polyurethane (PU), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

Additional reporting by Stefan Baumgarten

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