Auto shops are starting to see the effects of the United Auto Workers union on their businesses, WRIC reports.
One such store is Certified Auto Repair in Henrico County, Virginia. Store Manager Robbie Althizer has reported the price of car parts rising and a decrease in availability. If the strike continues, he fears that prices could end up doubling.
Victor Chen, an associate sociology professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, explained that during the auto crisis of the late 2000s, auto workers sacrificed a lot of their benefits.
With the “Detroit big three” automakers–Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors–raking in near-record profits, the workers at these companies want to see that success for themselves as well.
UAW is fighting for retirees to have healthcare benefits, the abolition of the two-tiered system causing new hires to be paid half as much as full-time veteran workers, limiting the number of temporary workers, reducing the number of hours needed for pay increases, pensions, and raising wages by around 40% over the next four years.
With auto workers accounting for about 3% of the U.S. economy, it may not be long before the supply chain is heavily impacted. Besides the impact on automotive shops, those shopping for new vehicles will face reduced inventories and higher premiums as the strike continues.
“It will be a significant economic hit if it drags on for weeks,” said Chen. “The supply chain is so interwoven that just striking those three plants and maybe a few more will shut down all of auto production in the United States.”
