UAW strike expands again, impacting 7,000 more workers
Beginning at noon today, UAW members will walk off the job at General Motors’ Delta Township plant near Lansing, and at Ford Motor Company’s Chicago Assembly plant.
Striking workers picket near a Mopar Parts Distribution Center in Center Line, Michigan.
The United Auto Workers strike against Detroit automakers has expanded once again to include two more plants, UAW President Shawn Fain announced Friday.
Beginning at noon today, UAW members will strike at General Motors’ Delta Township plant near Lansing, and at Ford Motor Company’s Chicago Assembly plant — affecting an additional 7,000 workers.
Fain says while negotiation talks have not broken down completely, they’re not progressing to the union’s liking.
“Our courageous members at these two plants are the next wave of reinforcements in our fight for record contracts,” he said during Friday’s livestream, which was delayed by about 30 minutes due to last minute bargaining with Stellantis.
“Moments before this broadcast, Stellantis made significant progress on the 2009 cost of living allowance, the right not to cross a picket line, as well as the right to strike over product commitments and plant closures and outsourcing moratoriums,” Fain said. “We are excited about this momentum with Stellantis and hope it continues.”
Fain did not announce additional strikes against Stellantis, citing the recent progress made during talks with the automaker.
The latest move by union leadership brings the total of striking UAW auto workers to 25,000.
“I’m still very hopeful that we can reach a deal that reflects the incredible sacrifices and contributions our members have made over the last decade,” said Fain. “But I also know that what we win at the bargaining table depends on the power we build on the job. It’s time to use that power.”
In addition to the auto workers’ strike, union members across various industries are flexing their collective muscles for better labor contracts, including UAW-represented workers at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan — who have been on strike for more than two weeks — and UAW workers at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, who held a picket this week due to staffing issues and a growing backlog of cases at the state agency.
Soon, they could be joined by workers from Detroit’s three casinos – MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino and Hollywood Casino at Greektown – who are represented by a consortium of unions that also includes Teamsters and UNITE HERE Local 24.
The union contract with the three casinos will run out mid-October and a vote by union members is expected to take place today on whether to authorize a strike.
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