GE's 0.19% Gains Amid Rising Strike Risks as $1.03B Volume Ranks 78th

On August 20, 2025, General Electric (GE) closed with a 0.19% gain, trading at a volume of $1.03 billion, ranking 78th in market activity. The modest increase came amid heightened labor tensions at GE Aerospace, where unionized workers are preparing for potential strikes ahead of a contract expiration deadline on August 27.

UAW Local 647 members at GE Aerospace facilities in Erlanger, Kentucky, and Evendale, Ohio, have escalated demands for improved job security, healthcare affordability, and fair time-off policies. After weeks of stalled negotiations, the union’s bargaining committee walked out following a contentious meeting, triggering a strike authorization vote scheduled for August 22. Workers have organized weekly solidarity actions, including plant-wide walks, to pressure management over what they describe as dismissive counteroffers, including proposals that would hike healthcare costs by 40% over four years.

The labor dispute could weigh on GE’s operational stability, as the Erlanger site serves as a critical distribution hub for global operations, while Evendale facilities produce U.S. Navy engines. Prolonged strikes or unresolved negotiations may disrupt production timelines and impact earnings visibility, particularly as the company navigates broader market volatility.

A strategy of purchasing the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day from 2022 to 2025 yielded a 0.98% average return, with a cumulative gain of 31.52% over 365 days. This reflects mixed performance driven by short-term momentum and market fluctuations, underscoring the risks of timing-based trading approaches.