GM health care shift during UAW strike poured gasoline on fire

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

DETROIT – Within 36 hours of the United Automobile Workers strike against General Motors, the Detroit automaker announced a decision to shift worker health care payments to the union immediately – a strategy that risks dragging out the strike, labor negotiators say.

"They're pouring gasoline on the fire," said Harry Katz, the Jack Sheinkman Professor of Collective Bargaining at the School of Industrial & Labor Relations at Cornell University.

"This induces the workers to get more angry. GM thinks this will scare them or get them to rethink the cost of their benefits. I think it's going to backfire. It's quick, rash and insensitive."

In response to criticism, GM spokesman Pat Morrissey referred to the company's statement released Tuesday: "We understand strikes are difficult and disruptive to families. While on strike, some benefits shift to being funded by the union’s strike fund, and in this case hourly employees are eligible for union-paid COBRA so their health care benefits can continue."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/expert-gm-health-care-shift-during-uaw-strike-poured-gasoline-on-fire/ar-AAHuw2V?ocid=spartandhp

[Fullduplexxx]

1. This is to reduce strike benefit cash