GM’s Lansing Delta plant on strike: What we know

LANSING — Union workers at General Motors' Delta Township Assembly Plant on Friday joined the ongoing national strike against the Big Three automakers.

Here’s what we know:

How many union workers are involved?

Lansing Delta employs about 2,300 UAW members, who belong to the Local 602, said Mike Huerta, president of the union.

What vehicles could be impacted?

UAW workers at Lansing Delta make the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse midsize SUVs.

When did the local strike start?

Workers, who have been preparing for the possibility of a strike for weeks, joined the picket lines at noon Friday, according to UAW President Shawn Fain. Also joining the strike Friday were several thousand workers at Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant. Fain said 7,000 workers were added to the strike from the two plants Friday.

Didn’t local UAW members strike last week?

Yes. While the strike began at select GM, Ford and Stellantis plants on Sept. 14, the only Michigan facilities initially involved were in southeast Michigan. A week ago, 5,500 workers at 38 distribution center across the U.S., including about 200 at the GM distribution center on Mt. Hope Road, joined the strike.

Is the Lansing Grand River plant or Lansing Stamping affected?

Not yet. Fain said Lansing Stamping workers would continue to report to their jobs. Union workers at Lansing Grand River, where Local 652 represents more than 1,400 employees, are not yet part of the strike.

Is progress being made in negotiations?

Dwight Jackson, president of UAW Local 1753, which represents more than 200 workers at the distribution center, said they are prepared for a lengthy strike. He declined to get into specifics but said they have been readying for some time. Fain on Friday said despite the UAW's willingness to bargain, Ford and GM have refused to make meaningful progress at the negotiating table.

However, Fain said negotiations haven't broken down. He said because the union has made significant progress with Stellantis, the strike was not extended to the automaker.

What is GM saying?

Gerald Johnson, GM's executive vice president of global manufacturing, sent a note to employees at Lansing Delta Township Friday saying it is ready and willing to continue negotiations to reach a contract soon so that nonunion automakers do not win market share during the strike.

What does it mean for the Lansing economy?

Huerta previously warned that strikes at Lansing’s two GM plants would have cascading impacts on the local economy.

A strike would result in a lack of workers commuting to the Lansing area, impacting restaurants, gas stations and retail industries, Huerta said.

“All of this stuff — it ripples through the economy,” he said.

Lansing Mayor Andy Schor issued a statement of support for the striking workers on Friday afternoon.

“Lansing’s auto workers are the best in the world, and have been building cars here for over 125 years," he said. "We are proud of our rich UAW history and the highly-trained workers who keep Lansing and the world on wheels. I have been on the picket line with them this week, listening to their concerns and learning more about everything they are fighting for, including better wages and a fair tier system, among other things. I know they would rather be at work, rolling cars off the lines at the Lansing Delta plant as well as at the distribution plant, and will be ready to do so when a fair and equitable deal is reached."

Detroit Free Press reporter Jamie L. LaReau contributed.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: GM’s Lansing Delta plant on strike: What we know