The United Auto Workers (UAW) union announced a significant win in their ongoing strike against General Motors (GM). According to UAW President Shawn Fain, GM has agreed to include battery plant workers under the union’s national contract. While a broader deal on a new four-year contract has not been reached, Fain sees this as a major step forward.
Fain confirmed in a Facebook Live address to members that GM had put the agreement in writing. This move comes after the union threatened to strike GM’s assembly plant in Arlington, Texas. The inclusion of battery plant workers under the union’s contract is considered a victory in the union’s push for a “just transition” from combustion-engine vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs).
Fain expressed his satisfaction with this development and called out the automakers’ previous stance on the EV future. He stated, “We’ve been told the EV future must be a race to the bottom. And now we’ve called their bluff.”
While GM has not responded to Fain’s announcement, the union sees this as a major breakthrough. Battery plant workers play a crucial role in the union’s aim to protect union labor in the transition to EVs. The UAW has been concerned that automakers would exploit the shift to EVs to hire nonunion workers at lower wages.
As the industry moves towards EV production, the UAW insists that new jobs in this sector should have the same high standards and benefits as traditional union auto jobs. The automakers have previously argued that the battery plants are joint ventures and therefore exempt from union bargaining.
“We’ve been told the EV future must be a race to the bottom. And now we’ve called their bluff.”
– Shawn Fain, UAW president
Fain believes that GM’s offer is a significant victory in their efforts to secure worker rights and prevent the loss of high-paying jobs. He stated, “The [automakers’] plan was to draw down engine and transmission plants and replace them with low-wage battery jobs. We had a different plan.” Fain remains optimistic about winning similar agreements with Ford and Stellantis (Dodge and Jeep brands).
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The UAW has been simultaneously striking against Ford, GM, and Stellantis for three weeks. This coordinated effort is unprecedented in the union’s history. The strike has targeted specific plants rather than shutting down all facilities, allowing for potential escalation.
During the strike, approximately 25,000 workers have gone on strike at five assembly plants and numerous parts distribution facilities, leading to temporary layoffs for thousands of additional workers. The strike affects around 150,000 workers covered under the national contracts.
The UAW’s strategy of unpredictable walkouts has kept the automakers on their toes. The union has expanded the strike to different plants each week, putting pressure on the companies to reach a favorable agreement.
Regarding future strikes, Fain stated, “Not everything is about pulling out the bazooka. We’ve been very careful about how we escalate this strike, and we’ve designed this strategy to increase pressure on the companies, not to hurt them for its own sake.” He concluded by saying, “They know we’ve got more cards to play.”
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