The president of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union threatened on Sunday with a possible “amplification” of the strike that began on Friday between the three main American automakers if better proposals are not presented while the movement invites itself to political debate.
If we do not get better offers (…), we will proceed with an extension
of the strike, declared UAW head Shawn Fain during an interview with CBS. We have been left behind for decades.
he added, explaining that the workers who represent they are fed up
.
Very offensive since the start of negotiations two months ago, Shawn Fain has increased the pressure a bit at a time when discussions between the union and the Three big
(General Motors, Ford, Stellantis) resumed on Saturday.
Today we had reasonably productive conversations with Ford.
reach a compromise on a new collective agreement, the UAW told AFP on Saturday.
The UAW told AFP it had met with GM officials on Sunday, without giving further details.
On Saturday, the union headquarters reported reasonably productive discussions with Ford
reach agreement on a new collective agreement
So far, the union has chosen to limit the scope of work stoppages so as not to block all production. Stellantis and the UAW have entered a critical stage of negotiations
said on Saturday the group born from the merger, in 2021, between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the French Peugeot.
Three plants have been closed since Friday: a General Motors plant in Wentzville, Missouri, another Stellantis plant in Toledo, Ohio, and a Ford branch in Wayne, Michigan. They refer to 12,700 of the 146,000 UAW members listed at the three manufacturers. The latter have never experienced a simultaneous strike.
Offers too low, according to the union
Stellantis has raised its offer and is now proposing a salary increase of almost 21%
during the validity of the new collective agreement, that is, four years, compared to 14.5% just a week ago.
However, for Shawn Fain, a 21% offer is largely insufficient, while the UAW is demanding an increase of around 40%. We don’t even want to hear about it.
he said Sunday on CBS.
GM and Ford offer to increase wages by a total of 20%.
The Republican Party has taken advantage of this issue to weaken US President Joe Biden, whose economic record is criticized. The head of the state He pursued a policy that caused the worst inflation in 40 years.
former Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday on CNN about the strike.
In fact, economists attribute part of the price increase to Joe Biden, while associating it with the stimulus measures adopted by Donald Trump at the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, as well as with the effects of the pandemic itself, which altered the supply chains.
These hard-working auto workers face the same situation as other Americans: wages are not keeping up with inflation.
Joe Biden, candidate for a second term, sent a message of support to UAW members on Friday and asked manufacturers to go further
in their proposals.
Strong unions grow the economy
wrote on X (formerly Twitter), Vice President Kamala Harris, who said respect employees’ right to strike
.
Several elected Democrats or independent leftists participated in pickets or rallies in the northern region of the United States, where many auto factories of the three major American manufacturers are located.
Following leftist Sen. Bernie Sanders on Friday, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jefferies announced Sunday that he would travel to Detroit later that day to testify about his solidarity
with the union.
We all hope that this will end quickly, but (…) these companies have generated an incredible economic profit (…) and it seems right to me that these benefits are shared among everyone
the elected official told ABC channel.
