John Elkann went through a 8 month fight UAW: Case(CNH), Stellantis merger strengths.

[AlexB]

Way less dependent on UAW than the "legacy Chrysler business",but same supreme boss (however different UAW boss):

United Auto Workers members at Case-New Holland Industrial's Burlington factory received calls and texts Monday morning, ordering them back to work beginning next week.

The messages are one of the final steps to close a strike that lasted eight months, the longest-running major work stoppage in Iowa in 12 years. The union's vote Saturday to end the strike capped a hostile standoff between the UAW and the Italian-owned implement manufacturer, a fight in which union leaders say they rejected dozens offers before even taking a contract to members.

How did the strike end?​

The latest proposal passed with 62% of the vote between the two groups on strike, UAW Local 807 at CNH's Burlington plant and the larger UAW Local 180 at its plant in Racine, Wisconsin.

The outcome showed a significant shift in member sentiment from the previous contract vote Jan. 7, when only 45% of strikers approved a proposal from CNH. The swing over the last two weeks came even as multiple members said the actual offer from the company barely budged.

Previously:8-month strike continues for Case New Holland workers in Iowa, Wisconsin

What changed workers' minds?​

Multiple workers say they received letters from the company Jan. 17, informing them that managers would hire permanent replacements if the union didn't vote to ratify an agreement by Jan. 23.

If a company hires permanent replacements, it doesn't have to immediately re-hire every union member once the strike ends. The company merely has to place those workers on a striker recall list. The company then has to offer those workers jobs as positions become open.

More:Striking Ingredion workers in Iowa approve new contract

"If you’re at a plant where there isn’t a lot of turnover, it may be five years before any positions are opened up," said Paul Iverson, a labor law professor at the University of Iowa.

A CNH Industrial spokesperson declined to comment when the Des Moines Register sought confirmation of the permanent replacement threat. The company has operated with temporary replacements since the strike started May 2.

Why did workers hold out for so long?​

Kim Alber, a paint line employee who has worked at CNH Industrial for 10 years, said many members had stuck with their opposition, despite what the company hyped as a 28% pay bump in its Jan. 7 offer, because it was offering a less generous health insurance plan to new hires.

• Pay raises: Some departments are getting pay raises between 28%-to 38%. Chew, who works in the Tractor-Loader-Backhoe Assembly line made $20.93 before the strike began on May 2, 2022. Under the new contract, she will make $23.77 starting Jan. 30, 2023 and that will increase to $25.08 in May of 2023. Her pay will go up once again in March of 2026 to $27.67.
• Bonus vacation time: A worker will now only need to wait 12 years for on additional week of bonus vacation time. Before workers would need to be with the company for 15 years to automatically get an extra week. Chew says it usually takes about five years of working with the company to be given two-weeks off automatically.
• PAA increases: Workers now have 40 hours of Paid Absence Allowance, up from 32 hours.
• Increased PTO flexibility: Workers can now call in to take vacation time 15 minutes before the start of their shift, instead of 30 minutes before their shift.

What pushed through the Case-UAW contract, ending Iowa's longest strike in years?

Workers say that CNH Industrial threatened to permanently replace them if they didn't approve a contract. And tax bills loomed.

www.desmoinesregister.com

UAW-CNH Industrial contract details revealed: Here's what workers agreed to

News 8 spoke to a member of the UAW bargaining team about the details of the new agreement following the end of the CNH strike on Saturday.

www.wqad.com

One of the concepts as to why FCA-PSA Merger makes sense was to take the Italian Side merge it to have "Two power centers(North America & Europe)" to power through challenges in the both society & Automotive Industry.
Meanwhile, PSA unlike Daimler came with billions in Net Industrial Cash at very moment FCA paid down billions of debt & straighten out its balance sheet.

PSA wants to merge with FCA. Highlights a nearly $20 billion net cash chest

FCA end 2018 with net cash for the first in the Fiat and Chrysler marriage , and post MM Sale will be pushing near $8 billion net cash even with paying a special dividend. Add PSA's $10.2 billion net cash + this year (likely) profitability and get a merge FCA-PSA (assuming an ALL STOCK MERGER)...

moparinsiders.com

Fast forward to 2023.
Europe integration is ongoing , but so far strong financial results with 10%+ margins,and despite billions of dollars in dividend payouts cash at any measure has ballooned since the merger completion.

So add on Stellantis's scale, cash, profitability in Europe, profitability in Latin America (a FIAT legacy strength gotten stronger with addition of LCV, Jeep brand, and PSA foothold on markets like Colombia),100 days + of inventory along with Leadership that's willing to push back against UAW demands, and got the worst combination of time+factors that a new UAW President could pickup a fight on Mopar.
The Merger has damaged UAW's leverage.