Sept. 22 (UPI) — United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain announced on Friday morning that its members at General Motors and Stellantis distribution centers across the country will go on strike, adding to the 13,000 already walking the picket lines at three assembly plants.
“We will be striking 38 locations across 20 states, across all nine regions of the UAW,” said Fain in a live stream on Facebook. “As I’ve been saying for weeks, we won’t wait around forever for a fair contract from the Big Three. The companies are aware of what needs to be done to make this right. The public is on our side. And the UAW members are ready to take a stand.”
The declaration followed through on the promise to call for more auto workers on strike if “significant” progress wasn’t made during negotiations. This comes after workers at assembly plants in Missouri, Ohio, and Michigan went on strike.
The union chose not to call for additional picketers at Ford Motors distribution centers due to the progress made in negotiations, which included cost of living adjustments and temporary worker hiring.
While Stellantis and GM have been rejecting most of the union’s proposals, Ford has made significant movement, such as eliminating an entire wage tier at one plant, reinstating the cost-of-living allowance, and granting the right to strike over plant closures. They have also improved benefits for laid-off workers and enhanced profit-sharing.
“All of those changes are significant progress,” Fain stated. “However, our work isn’t finished. We still have important issues to address, but we want to acknowledge Ford’s commitment to reaching an agreement.”
Currently, approximately 13,000 UAW members at the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich., the Stellantis Toledo Assembly Complex in Ohio, and the GM Wentzville Assembly Plant in Missouri are on strike. Fain praised these striking workers for their leadership and determination on the picket lines and emphasized that support would be forthcoming.
Despite escalating their strike efforts, Fain remains optimistic about reaching a resolution. He said, “Right now, I believe we can get there. Stellantis and GM will need to be pushed. Going on strike is a serious matter, and we don’t take it lightly. We have a clear strategy to win.”
The strike began earlier this month after the automakers and the union failed to reach a contract deal. The UAW’s “standup” strike strategy aims to keep Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis engaged through sudden and targeted strikes at crucial plants, rather than having all 150,000 UAW auto workers walk off the job simultaneously.
As a result of the strike, General Motors has laid off approximately 2,000 workers at its Kansas assembly plant due to parts shortages. Stellantis has also laid off about 370 workers at three parts factories supplying its Toledo Jeep plant.
The union’s key demands focus on a 40% hourly pay increase, a reduced 32-hour workweek, a return to traditional pensions, and the restoration of cost-of-living adjustments.
On Friday, President Joe Biden announced on Twitter that he will join a Michigan picket line next Tuesday in solidarity with the UAW. He stated, “It’s time for a win-win agreement that keeps American auto manufacturing thriving with well-paid UAW jobs.”
