UAW strikes threaten already vulnerable auto parts suppliers

Members of the United Auto Workers union hold a practice picket in front of Stellantis headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on Sept. 20, 2023. As the United Auto Workers’ strike against Ford Motor , General Motors and Stellantis moves through its second week, the economic effects are beginning to ripple through the U.S. automakers’ vast supply base. While the automakers and their larger Tier 1 suppliers likely have the resources to weather an extended work stoppage, there’s a network of smaller suppliers that could be hit hard by a prolonged strike — or even go out of business entirely. That…