UAW strike-caused losses rack up to nearly $4B so far

The shutdown of 38 parts distribution centers also crimped dealership service operations. The AEG report noted when distribution centers were shut down, the strike’s impact spread to dealers, customers and additional suppliers, none of which are party to the strike negotiations.

“When the innocent bystanders begin to feel it,” Anderson said, “it will affect the generally supportive sentiment Americans have been expressing about the UAW’s demands thus far in the strike.”

The latest round of strike targets announced Friday will impact both Ford and General Motors customers. The UAW announced 7,000 more workers would strike at a Ford plant in Chicago and a General Motors assembly factory near Lansing, Michigan. 

The Ford plant strike will directly hit its supply chain in the production of the company’s most popular and profitable models, the Ford Explorer and the midsize SUV Lincoln Aviator models. The GM plant manufactures the large crossover SUV, the Chevrolet Traverse.

Daniel Rustmann, co-chairman of the global automotive practice at Butzel, which represents auto suppliers, said he is already seeing an impact.

“I know some suppliers are laying off hundreds of workers and they are worried about getting them back,” Rustmann said. “It’s a tough labor market … . The situation can be dire in the next couple of weeks depending on their size. Historically, they don’t get support from their customers, the OEMs.”

Rustmann said prior to the strikes, the suppliers were still faced with supply chain difficulties. The industry continues to receive delayed products as a result of the Canadian ports labor strikes over the summer. There is also an inability to store products. All of this adds to the supply chain delivery timeline.

“When the strike ends, OEMs will want to turn on the fire hose and start back at 100%, but the suppliers can’t because of labor,” he said. “They will need to ramp back up. There will also be delays because some products need materials compounded or formulated, they have shelf life issues.”