(WXYZ) — Michigan Economist Patrick Anderson is urging members of Congress to encourage President Trump to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to intervene in the strike against General Motors by the United Autoworkers union.
In his letter written to Congressman Fred Upton and obtained by 7 Action News, Anderson states the Act was intended to apply when a strike or work stoppage would "imperil the national health or safety."
The strike is now in day 30.
UAW GM Strike2019 AppealOct2019 Upton by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
Anderson points out the strike is causing economic damage in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana with 46,000 General Motors workers on strike and 175,000 other workers furloughed and losing wages of $624 Million. In addition, Anderson estimates GM has lost $1.2 billion.
Anderson says if the strike is not settled soon, the economic bleeding will get worse and spread to other states.
He points out that President George W. Bush last invoked the Act in 2002 to help end a labor dispute between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union that shut down west coast ports and caused regional economic damage. A federal mediator helped end that dispute.
The Anderson Economic Group is based in East Lansing and the letter has been sent to members of Congress in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Texas.
One of the toughest issues could be the union's demand that was GM sells in the US is made here. The legacy nameplate Chevy Blazer is now made in Mexico. Radatz says that move violated the 2015 contract... https://t.co/AAhWYV53ct pic.twitter.com/0vuHLooEhx
— Jim Kiertzner WXYZ (@kiertzner7) October 15, 2019
The strike is in day 30. That's a long time. Julaynne Trusel is a strike captain with UAW Local 22 at D-Ham, Detroit Hamtramck. Her reaction to the developments today... https://t.co/5Ps70uMr1t pic.twitter.com/wj5LRzJiyX
— Jim Kiertzner WXYZ (@kiertzner7) October 15, 2019
