UAW Members Approaching Strike Deadline over Pay Increases and Better Benefits
DEARBORN, Mich. (WXYZ) — The deadline for a possible strike is looming as United Auto Workers (UAW) members continue to clash with the Big Three – Ford, General Motors (GM), and Stellantis – over their demands for double-digit pay increases, the elimination of a two-tier wage system, a shorter workweek, and improved benefits.
According to the UAW, local unions are currently conducting strike authorization votes, indicating that tensions are escalating. A video has also emerged featuring a Ford Motor Co. worker named Sara Schambers, who emphasizes the growing difficulty of making ends meet.
Schambers highlights the challenges faced by workers in meeting the income levels presented by Ford’s executive vice president, Jim Farley. She states, “In order to make the amount that Farley said, you have to live in these plants. You have to work 12 hours a day, five to six, sometimes seven days a week in order to make that kind of money.”
The pressure is mounting on both sides, with Stellantis worker Terrell Brown expressing the frustration of UAW members. Brown criticizes the companies, accusing them of continuously taking without the UAW regaining many concessions. He believes that a resolution without a strike is possible, but doubts its likelihood, stating, “I think there’s going to be some sort of strike.”
In response to the escalating tensions, Ford, GM, and Stellantis have issued statements.
Ford has argued that temporary workers represent only 3% of its hourly workforce and emphasizes a clear career path for them. It states, “By the end of the current contract, 80% of all Ford’s UAW-represented hourly employees will be at the top wage rate of around $32.” The company highlights the additional compensation provided to eligible production employees at the top wage rate, amounting to approximately $47,000 during this contract.
Stellantis responds cautiously, stating that product allocation for its U.S. plants will depend on the outcome of negotiations and a plant’s ability to meet specific performance metrics. The company refrains from commenting further as these decisions are part of ongoing discussions at the bargaining table.
GM reaffirms its commitment to working with the UAW and ensuring that the agreement benefits all stakeholders. The company states, “We know that our U.S. economic impact supports more than six jobs for every job created by GM.” It emphasizes its dedication to bargaining in good faith to support team members, customers, dealers, the community, suppliers, and the business.
As the strike deadline of September 14 approaches, the UAW and the Big Three continue to negotiate and search for common ground. The outcome of these negotiations and whether a strike will occur remains uncertain, but the stakes are high for both sides as they strive for a fair agreement that meets the needs and demands of UAW members and the automotive industry as a whole.