The United Automobile Workers union significantly expanded its strike today to include every spare-parts distribution center operated by General Motors and Stellantis (the parent of Jeep and Ram). More than 5,000 workers at 38 plants across 21 states walked off the job, bringing the total number of striking U.A.W. workers to more than 18,000.
The move came just a week after the U.A.W. launched its strike against all three of the major U.S. automakers. The union opted to expand its action, according to its president, Shawn Fain, because contract talks with the two companies had not progressed significantly. Fain added that the U.A.W. was not yet expanding its walkout against Ford Motor, which has done more to meet the union’s demands.
By targeting distribution centers, which supply vehicle parts for repairs, the union is effectively taking its case to consumers. By making it more difficult or expensive to fix cars and trucks, the expanded strike could further pressure the automakers to make concessions. But it could also backfire on the union by frustrating car owners and turning them against the U.A.W.
The union and the companies still say they are far apart on wage proposals, and it remains unclear how long a strike could continue. If the weeks of walkout stretch into months, it could become increasingly painful for the companies, the workers and, potentially, the U.S. economy. For now, the union is paying striking workers $500 per week.
Senator Robert Menendez was charged with accepting bribes
Federal prosecutors today indicted Robert Menendez, the powerful Democratic senator of New Jersey, accusing him of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes — including gold bars — to use his position as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee to aid the government of Egypt and businessmen in New Jersey.
The indictment, which features photos of jackets that investigators found stuffed with cash, depicts a brazen plan hatched during furtive dinners, in text messages and on encrypted calls — much of it aimed at increasing U.S. assistance to Egypt. It also says he tried to influence the criminal investigation of a longtime fund-raiser for him, among other schemes. In exchange, the senator and his wife — Nadine Menendez, who was also charged — accepted cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage, a luxury vehicle and other valuable things, the indictment said.
The governor of New Jersey called on Menendez to resign. Menendez denied the accusations, blaming them on “forces behind the scenes,” but stepped down from his chairmanship of the Foreign Relations Committee. The indictment comes nearly six years after his trial on unrelated claims of corruption that ended with a hung jury.
Washington braces for a government shutdown
With government funding set to expire at the end of next week and no clear path in Congress for the passage of a spending measure, officials across Washington are rushing to make preparations to weather a shutdown that looks more likely with each passing hour.
The White House budget office today sent a note to federal agencies, reminding them to make a plan for a potential shutdown. Some members of Congress are pre-emptively adjusting staff roles or planning to pay advances to their staff members who would stop receiving paychecks in the event of a shutdown.
Your fall movie guide
Although the Hollywood strikes have put a damper on this year’s entertainment calendar, there’s still an exciting slate of movies set to come out over the next couple of months.
The most notable works on the schedule are from established masters, including Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” about the murders in the 1920s of members of the Osage Nation, Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla,” about one of the most watched marriages in rock ’n’ roll, and David Fincher’s “The Killer,” an adaptation of a graphic-novel series about an assassin.
See our full list of the most anticipated movies this season, including what to see this weekend.
A more contemporary Met Opera
The Metropolitan Opera has long been known for classics like Verdi’s “La Traviata” and “Rigoletto.” But next week, it will open its new season with “Dead Man Walking,” a death-row tale, adapted by Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally.
The performance will be the first test of the Met’s big bet on modern opera: After struggling with weak ticket sales, the 140-year-old company opted to fill about a third of the upcoming season with works by living composers. It’s still early, but ticket sales for the first three weeks of the season are about 12 percent higher compared with the same period last year.
The power of the BeyHive
Jon Hetherington was devastated last week when he missed his “once-in-a-lifetime” chance to see Beyoncé perform live.
He had everything prepared: transportation, an outfit and, most important, a coveted ticket to the concert in Seattle. But when he got to his gate at the airport, the airline said it could not accommodate the electric wheelchair he relies on to get around.
Hetherington posted a video on social media explaining his situation, and the BeyHive — as Beyoncé’s fans are known — took notice, tagging the singer and her management company. Representatives for Beyoncé contacted him, booked him a flight to Texas and secured him a ticket for her show in Arlington last night.
