United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain provided a new deadline for contract negotiations to make “serious progress,” stating that more workers will strike if demands are not met.
“Noon on Friday, Sept. 22, is a new deadline,” Fain said in a video on Monday evening. “Either the Big Three get down to business and work with us to make progress in negotiations, or more locals will be called on to stand up and go out on strike.”
HERE ARE THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE PLEDGED TO VOTE NO ON STOPGAP SPENDING MEASURE
“We’re not waiting around, and we’re not messing around,” Fain added.
Friday, September 22nd.
Noon.
The working class won’t wait.#StandUpUAW pic.twitter.com/btglVN27cO— UAW (@UAW) September 19, 2023
The UAW represents nearly 150,000 members, making it the largest auto union in the United States. Negotiations are continuing between the UAW and the three big auto manufacturers as the two sides argue over top-line pay. UAW is asking for a 36% pay increase, while the manufacturers have offered roughly half of that.
The strike entered its fifth day on Tuesday. Instead of striking all at once, the “Stand Up Strike” chooses select locals to strike as opposed to asking all plants to strike at once. Fain said it pays homage to strikes held in the past.
Around 13,000 UAW members went on strike across multiple states at plants run by Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis on Friday morning — the GM Wentzville Assembly, Stellantis Toledo Assembly Complex, and the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant’s final assembly and paint departments.
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“Then, as now, our industry is rapidly changing, and workers are being left behind,” Fain said on Monday, stating that UAW workers’ pay has risen a “mere 6%” over the last four years.
“Due to inflation, an auto worker is making less in real wages than we made 20 years ago,” Fain added. “That’s why we have chosen to stand up.”
