Fain on UAW strike plan: It’s up to companies
Says the automakers can afford to make things right
UAW President Shawn Fain on Tuesday addressed the big question on the minds of probably anyone working at Ford, General Motors or Stellantis right now.
Who is the strike target for this year’s contract bargaining?
The answer he gave during a Facebook Live session, however, keeps the question where it has been for months, up for interpretation.
“So I know people are very anxious to hear who our strike target is, and my answer to this question is very simple. The Big Three is our strike target and whether or not there is a strike, it’s up to Ford, General Motors and Stellantis because they know what our priorities are. We’ve been clear,” Fain said, pointing to the “quarter of a trillion dollars in North American profits” the companies have booked in the last decade.
The automakers, he said, can afford to make things right. Making things right, he said, involves addressing union priorities such as reestablishing cost-of-living adjustments, supporting retirees, job security and ending wage tiers.
“If the Big Three don’t give us our fair share, then they’re choosing to strike themselves, and we’re not afraid to take action,” Fain said, in a virtual rally of sorts that comes ahead of the start of bargaining.
Talks begin with Stellantis on Thursday, Ford on Friday and GM on July 18. The current contracts are in effect until 11:59 p.m. Sept. 14. Fain and UAW Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock and vice presidents Chuck Browning, Mike Booth and Rich Boyer plan to host a “members’ handshake” on Wednesday at the gates of three metro Detroit plants — Stellantis’ Sterling Heights Assembly, GM’s Factory Zero and Ford’s Michigan Assembly.
The “members’ handshake” is the latest departure in the union’s typical strategy ahead of bargaining, replacing the ceremonial handshake with company leaders.
Fain’s comments Tuesday echoed much of what he and other union leaders have been saying for months about bargaining priorities and about the power that the membership has to get better contracts, as long as members are prepared to fight for them.
He asked members to fill out and return support cards to provide contact information so the union can better inform members about bargaining and to “let the companies know where we stand.”
Fain also held up a 2003 Detroit Free Press edition, with the lead headline in all caps, “Pacts help carmakers fight foreign rivals.”
He said that was the year, despite the companies being profitable, that the union made a switch from three-year contracts to four, agreed to bonuses during two years of the contract rather than wage increases each year and gave the OK to close plants along with other concessions. Fain described a vice president referenced in the article as sounding like a
company spokesperson, when he was addressing absenteeism, which he described as a company problem.
“This is just flat-out company unionism and there’s no other word for it. And I want to make one thing clear, those days are over. As your president, you’re not going to hear me speaking the company’s talking points,” he said.
A quick read of the 2003 article, however, while noting the plant closures and other items, paints a less rosy picture of the industry at the time.
“Negotiations for the 4-year tentative national contract wrapped up this week amid distressing times for General Motors Corp., Ford and DaimlerChrysler AG’s Chrysler Group. All three are losing business to companies like Toyota, Honda and Nissan — and not even record discounts and rebates are helping. Meanwhile, Ford lost $6.4 billion the previous two years and Chrysler lost $1.1 billion in the second quarter. GM is the most profitable; most of that is from re-financing mortgages,” the said.
The Free Press reached out to each of the three automakers for comment about the start of bargaining and their thoughts on Fain and the UAW leadership’s approach so far. Here are their statements:
Ford’s response
GM’s response
Stellantis’ response
article
“Ford is proud to build more vehicles in America and employ more UAW-represented hourly workers in America than any other automaker. We look forward to working with the UAW on creative solutions during this time when our dramatically changing industry needs a skilled and competitive workforce more than ever.”
“General Motors is committed to providing jobs that support American workers, their families, and the communities where they live and work. We have a long history of negotiating fair contracts with the UAW that reward our employees and support the long-term success of our business. Our total compensation package — including wages, bonuses, profit-sharing, benefits and comprehensive healthcare plan — is one of the best in the industry.”
“Stellantis and the UAW have a long history of working together, and our intent is to continue this partnership. On Thursday, we will begin discussions that will set our course for the next four years and beyond. Our focus will be on negotiating a contract that will ensure our future competitiveness in today’s rapidly changing global market and preserve good wages and benefits that recognize the contributions of our represented workforce. Together, we must approach these negotiations with open minds and a willingness to roll up our sleeves to find solutions that will result in a contract that is competitive in the market, provides a path to the middle class for our employees and meets the needs of our customers.”