More than 40,000 General Motors employees call the strike in the US

The 46,000 General Motors employees were called for a strike in the United States starting at midnight on Sunday, amid negotiations for a new collective agreement, said the powerful United Auto Workers (UAW).

"The union leaders across the country met on Sunday morning after the expiration on Saturday night of the General Motors collective agreement in force since 2015 and decided to go on strike Sunday at midnight," the union said in a statement.

UAW officials said the parties were far apart in negotiations initiated in July, with disagreements regarding wages, health benefits, the status of temporary workers and job security.

"This is our last resort," said Terry Dittes, who heads the union's negotiations with GM. "We defend the fundamental rights of the working class of this country," he added.

"Our members have spoken out; we have decided to act, and this is a decision that we do not take lightly," Ted Krumm, president of the UAW's national negotiating committee, said in a statement.

GM, the largest automaker in the United States, said in a statement its "disappointment" for the call to strike, despite presenting a "powerful offer" in the negotiations.

"We have negotiated in good faith and with a sense of urgency. Our goal remains to build a solid future for our employees and our businesses," he added.

The union leadership had received overwhelming support from their ranks to call the strike if necessary.

Ford and Fiat Chrysler workers agreed to extend their collective agreements, but GM's management was informed on Saturday that the union would not extend theirs.

Hours before the decision on Sunday to go on strike, contract maintenance workers abandoned their jobs at GM plants in Michigan and Ohio, in a parallel dispute with contractor Aramark.

Strong sales, uncertain picture

GM has enjoyed several years of strong sales, with earnings of $ 11.8 billion in 2018, which led union leaders to argue that it is time to share the benefits with the workers.

In early August, the firm reported a 1.2% increase in its net profits in the second quarter, to $ 2,410 million.

But the outlook is less clear in the face of concerns about a possible door recession amid international trade tensions, particularly between the United States and China.

Last November, the automaker announced the closure of five plants in North America, including facilities in Michigan and Ohio that were not assigned to production.

The company cited in early August a decrease in costs after that reorganization.

Negotiations include protecting those jobs and saving those plants.

In its response to the strike, GM management said its offer includes a promise of $ 7 billion in investments that would save or protect 5,400 jobs and address the issue of the two plants not allocated to production.

It also promises that a new electric truck will be manufactured in an American plant.

To the conflict is added a federal investigation against the leadership of the union, which led last month in a search by the FBI of the residence of the president of the UAW, Gary Jones.

Meanwhile, Vance Pearson, who is part of the UAW executive secretariat, was arrested Thursday on charges of conspiracy to use union dues for luxurious personal expenses.