UAW on strike!
As of midnight on September 14, United Auto Workers are on strike at the Big Three (Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors). This is a historic moment for auto workers and their communities, and the first time all three companies have forced simultaneous strikes. Workers at Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis are unified in their demands and wielding their collective power to “stand up” and strike!
Nearly 50,000 viewers tuned in across platforms this past Wednesday for an update from UAW President Shawn Fain. It was revealed that the Big Three delivered disgraceful counter-proposals to the members’ demands.
The Big Three:
offered woefully inefficient wage increases, in some cases as low as 17.5% over four years,
completely rejected members’ quality of life proposals, including fewer hours for higher wages,
slashed Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) so workers would feel little to no protection from inflation,
threw any retiree benefits talks out the window,
And, refused to end tiers at all companies.
In response, Fain announced, “We are prepared to strike these companies in a way they’ve never seen before.”
Fain also shared the United Auto Workers strike strategy Wednesday night. Inspired by the “sit-down” strikes that sparked collective action at UAW, workers at the Big Three will participate in “stand up” strikes. Instead of halting production at every Big Three plant, UAW members will strategically choose a few plants at a time, gradually escalating as needed. Members are expected to stand by and stand up when called upon.
It will keep the bosses guessing, and build worker power along the way.
The first wave of units being called to stand up for a fair contract:
General Motors: Wentzville Assembly, Local 2250
Stellantis: Toledo Assembly Complex, Local 12
Ford: Michigan Assembly Plant, Final Assembly and Paint, Local 900
Since 2013, the Big Three have made a quarter of a trillion dollars in profits and reported a combined $21 billion in profits the first half of 2023. We know the Big Three can afford to take care of their workers. Record profits equal record contracts. No exceptions!