Local impacts from UAW strike on auto part manufacturers and car dealerships

The historic UAW strike has ended.

The deal with GM that was approved includes a 25% pay raise for workers over the next four years.

Auto dealerships like Michiana Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT still feeling the impact of the strike in two big ways.

They say was hard to for the dealership to get new and extra parts from manufacturers which slowed down fixing cars that were waiting on service.

They also struggled to get cars off the lot.

“We have seen a significant decrease in, in in new car sales. And that has steadily been the same. Since this all started. We think by the first of the year, as interest rates, hopefully start to go back down, we’ll start to see an increase in new car sales,” Jarrod Enyart, the sales manager of Michiana Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT said.

The dealership like many others offering extended sales through the end of the year.

They hope the move will help them get back to normal now that the strike is over

“As we move into the first of the year, we anticipate and hope that interest rates will drop so we can get back to doing the volume that we once were,” Enyart said.

Meanwhile managers at Techniplas, an auto part manufacturer in the area say things are quickly getting back to normal. But they did see reduced orders and weren’t sure if they would have to layoff workers during the strike.

“The longer it goes, the more impact it’s gonna have. So we knew we were hoping for a quick agreement, just so we can kind of get back back to normal. But, you know, if it would have continued, there was a possibility for some, you know, possible layoffs or shorter work weeks,” Robbie Franklin, an operations manager at Techniplas said.

While the UAW and G-M have reached a deal. Voting is also taking place for deals at Ford and Stellantis.