BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

UAW President Shawn Fain: Strike entering ‘new phase’

  • United Auto Workers have been striking against the Big Three automakers
  • 8,700 employees walked out of Ford’s largest factory Wednesday
  • UAW President: Union no longer waiting to announce escalations on Fridays

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

maylen

https://digital-stage.newsnationnow.com/

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

(NewsNation) — United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain said in a Facebook Live that the union is no longer waiting until Fridays to escalate strike efforts as it is entering a “new phase.”

While Fain didn’t call for a strike expansion in his video Oct. 13, he added that the union is prepared to call on more locals to stand up and walk out of plants.

“Moving forward we will be calling out plants when we need to, where we need to, with little notice,” Fain said. “So stay ready, not just Fridays and not just Ford.”

United Auto Workers members have been going on strike at different facilities throughout the country, with most new expansions being announced on Fridays.

However, automakers then started waiting until Friday mornings to make offers, so Fain said the union “changed the rule.”

“Now there’s only one rule,” Fain said. “Pony up.”

UAW’s strike against the three unionized automakers — Ford, General Motors and Stellantis — has been happening for about a month now.

Fain most recently announced an escalation of the union’s strike Wednesday, with 8,700 employees walking out at Ford’s largest and most profitable factory, the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville.

For nearly two weeks, Fain said, Ford had told UAW it would make another counteroffer on economic issues. However, he said the company did not increase its previous offer at a meeting called by the union.

Kumar Galhotra, president of Ford Blue, the company’s internal combustion engine business, told reporters Thursday that executives have reached the limit of how much money they will spend to get a contract agreement with the union.

Ford stretched to get to the amount it’s currently offering, Galhotra said.

“We have been very clear we are at the limit,” he said on a conference call with reporters. “We risk the ability to invest in the business and profitably grow. And profitable growth is in the best interest of everybody at Ford.”

Fain pushed back against these remarks in Friday’s video.

“I found a pathetic irony in (Galhotra’s) statement,” Fain said. “You know who’s reached their limit? The tens of thousands of Ford workers with no retirement security. You know who stretched themselves? The Ford workers who didn’t get a single raise for a decade.”

Meanwhile, Fain said, the United Auto Workers is still “bargaining hard” with General Motors and Stellantis.

“Taking out Kentucky Truck sent a very clear message not only to Ford, but to GM and Stellantis as well — don’t you dare slow walk us or lowball us,” Fain said. “We will take out whatever plants they force us to.”

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain speaks at a rally in Detroit, Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. The UAW is conducting a strike against Ford, Stellantis and General Motors. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Fain added that the union, which is asking for wage increases, Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) and the re-establishment of retiree medical benefits, among other demands, is in a “strong position.”

“Already the wage offers we’ve received are more than a combined raises of the past 15 years.,” he said. “COLA’s back on the table in a serious way. Our progression of Ford is back to where it was in the mid-1990s.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Business

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Fair

la

61°F Fair Feels like 61°
Wind
0 mph W
Humidity
34%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 47F. Winds light and variable.
47°F A few passing clouds. Low 47F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
2 mph NNE
Precip
10%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Gibbous