UAW Strike Against Detroit's Big Three Causes $5.5B In Losses: Report

DETROIT — The standoff between the United Auto Workers and Detroit's Big Three has become the costliest strike against any automaker since 2000, according to a new economic report.

An economic assessment from East Lansing-based Anderson Economic Group found the labor dispute has cost the industry $5.5 billion, which includes $579 million in lost wages for workers and $2.6 billion in losses for automakers.

The estimate also includes $1.6 billion in supplier losses and another $1.26 billion in dealer and customer losses, according to the report.

"The third week was more costly than the last 2 because we saw additional factories shuttered and parts shortages reported at dealerships," Anderson Economic Group CEO Patrick Anderson said in a statement.

The assessment comes as hundreds of workers were laid off from Ford, GM and Stellantis. More than 400 Ford workers were laid off from a Livonia Transmission plant, while 520 Stellantis workers were told not to show up for work at a downriver engine plant. GM also laid off an addition 200 workers.

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain said Friday "significant progress" was made in recent contract talks with Detroit's Big Three. Fain said progress was made on important issues, such as the cost of living adjustments, meaningful pay raises, retirement security and work-life balance.

The historic UAW strike against Detroit's Big Three began on Sept. 8 after the union's contract expired without a new one in place. It's the first time ever the union launched a strike against all three automakers at the same time.