The driving (work)force… The 150K-member United Auto Workers union is keeping its foot on the gas in contract negotiations with the Big Three automakers: GM, Ford, and Stellantis. The UAW will hold strike-authorization votes this week (FYI, it’s expected to pass). Though the union historically strikes against one company — including a 40-day, $3.6B strike against GM in 2019 — this year it has said a strike against all three is possible if there’s no deal by September 14. A 10-day work stoppage could cost manufacturers, workers, and the auto industry $5B.
Lights, camera, and (maybe) action… Hollywood studios finally offered up a new deal for writers last week after more than three months of the WGA’s strike. Highlights of the deal (pushed by Netflix and Disney) include AI protections, greater streaming transparency, and higher pay. TBD if the WGA will accept (negotiations are expected to continue this week). The writers’ strike, coupled with the screen actors’ strike that started in July, has cost California's economy $3B+. Studios are feeling the content crunch as production of movies and hit TV series (like “The Last of Us”) is stalled.