ANALYSIS: Did a Big 3 Settlement Delay Lead to Higher UAW Pay?

The ink is now dry on the groundbreaking collective bargaining agreements that the United Auto Workers negotiated with the Big Three automakers. More than two months after their previous contracts expired (and following waves of high-profile strikes), UAW members ratified contracts securing huge wage concessions from Ford, GM, and Stellantis.

Seeing the length of the wait and the size of the wage increase led me to wonder whether there might be a connection between the two. Does a prolonged contract renewal negotiation necessarily favor one side over the other? And, if so, does the wait benefit ...