UAW President Shawn Fain joined striking workers at the Ford Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich. on Sept. 15, 2023, making a powerful statement in support of the ongoing strike. This historic event marks the first time that the United Auto Workers union has simultaneously struck against all three major automakers in Detroit, namely General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford.
The strike, initiated after the union failed to secure a new contract by the deadline, does not entail a complete walkout of all 150,000 union members working at the three automakers. Instead, it started with workers from three specific Midwest auto plants: a General Motors assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri, a Stellantis assembly plant in Toledo, Ohio, and a section of a Ford plant in Wayne, Mich. This targeted approach, part of UAW President Shawn Fain’s “stand up strike” strategy, currently involves around 13,000 workers, which is less than 9% of the total UAW membership at the three companies.
However, additional strike locations could follow at any moment, depending on the progress of negotiations with the automakers. This strategy aims to intensify the pressure on the companies by keeping them uncertain about how their operations will be affected.
During a Facebook Live event, Fain emphasized the significance of the strike, stating, “This is our generation’s defining moment. The money is there, the cause is righteous, the world is watching.”
The UAW’s willingness to strike simultaneously against all three automakers represents a departure from its traditional approach of negotiating with one company at a time and pushing the other two to match the agreements reached. While this method may still be employed in the future, Fain has not ruled out the possibility of a complete walkout involving all UAW workers at the Big Three automakers.
The strike is driven by the union’s demand for fair treatment and economic justice. Many workers, like Carrie Bellestri from the Ford plant in Michigan, believe that they deserve better compensation for their hard work and dedication. President Biden has expressed his support for the UAW, acknowledging the essential role played by UAW workers in the success of the auto companies.
Under Fain’s leadership, the UAW has adopted a more confrontational approach to negotiations. Fain strongly advocates for the fulfillment of the union’s economic demands, which include substantial pay raises, restoration of pension and retiree healthcare benefits, and cost-of-living adjustments. He criticizes previous UAW leaders for compromising on these issues. The effects of the concessions granted by the UAW during the 2008 financial crisis still linger, further fueling the determination of union members in this year’s negotiations.
The UAW also highlights the substantial profits made by the Big Three automakers in recent years and the significant pay disparities between top executives and rank-and-file union members. Fain compares the rise in the companies’ profits (up by 65% over four years) with the modest increase in autoworkers’ pay (only 6% in the same period). CEO pay, such as that of GM CEO Mary Barra, has become a contentious issue due to its vast difference compared to the median GM employee’s salary.
While the automakers have revised their initial wage proposals, offering increases as high as 20%, the union maintains that these offers do not adequately account for years of stagnant wages. The companies insist that they have made genuine attempts to reach agreements and have even included cost-of-living protections in their offers.
As the strike continues, the frustration on both sides is evident. The outcome of these negotiations will have far-reaching implications for the future of the UAW, the automakers, and the U.S. auto industry as a whole.
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