United Auto Workers union members on strike at two CNH Industrial plants were emboldened to continue their fight upon being visited on the picket line by U.S. senators this past weekend.
Despite a letter from senators led by Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., and UAW increasing pay for striking workers, negotiations have once again stalled between the union and CNH, the manufacturer of Case and New Holland construction equipment.
Prior to the picket-line visits by Sanders and Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., on Friday and Saturday respectively, talks among union leaders and CNH management had resumed in Madison, Wisconsin. The return to the bargaining table appeared to be CNH’s response to the letter from the senators urging fair and just negotiations.
The last offer presented by CNH on May 19 was rejected by UAW with no vote being taken because the offer fell far short of the members’ bargaining agenda. CNH described that offer as a comprehensive offer that was a significant financial boost from its original offer on May 1.
Upon returning to the table on Tuesday, union leaders said CNH showed little movement from its May 19 proposal.
Richard Glowacki, chairman of Local 180 and president of the UAW CNH Council, said that when CNH returned with its proposal, it was little different than the one submitted on May 19. He said the new offer merely moved some of the money around to make it appear different from the previous offer.
“For lack of a better word, it was waste of time,” Glowacki said. Based on the content of the proposal, negotiations were ended with no future dates scheduled as of this time. He said UAW leaders canceled their hotel stays to save money, based on the lack of legitimacy of the company’s bargaining efforts at the time.
