Auto worker strike highlights disparities between temporary and permanent employees

https://apnews.com/article/uaw-strike-ford-stellantis-general-motors-union-58cfc129b91b257b25c0a9254b2c44ec

By JOHN SEEWER and TOM KRISHER
Updated 4:00 AM CDT, October 5, 2023

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — When Rhonda Naus got a job inspecting Jeep Wranglers fresh off the assembly line, her paycheck added up to roughly half of what her co-workers were making. But with that came an expectation that her temporary status eventually would become permanent with a big jump in wages.

Six years later, she’s still doing the same work as her colleagues at Stellantis and still making a lot less.

“I knew I had to start at the bottom. I didn’t think I’d be at the bottom forever,” said Naus, who’s among thousands of striking United Auto Workers nationwide pushing for pay and benefit increases along with an end to multiple tiers of wages for workers across the companies.

From office workers to delivery drivers, companies have become increasingly reliant on temporary workers. Automakers have used the lower-paid workers for years to fill in for absent and vacationing full-time employees and to staff up when production increases.

FULL story at link above,