President Biden spoke in support of striking auto workers after negotiations stalled on Thursday night (Picture: AP)
President Joe Biden offered words of support for US auto workers as they begin a historic strike at three of America’s largest plants.
The United Auto Workers (UAW) called for targeted strikes at the ‘Big 3’ car manufacturers after contract negotiations stalled on Thursday night.
‘The bottom line is auto workers helped create America’s middle class,’ the president said on Friday. ‘They deserve a contract that sustains them and the middle class.’
On Friday morning, 13,000 workers walked off the job at three factories in the Midwest – a GM assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri, a Ford assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan, and a Stellantis facility in Toledo, Ohio.
UAW President Shawn Fain walks the picket line with striking workers early on Friday morning (Picture: AP)
It is the first time workers have gone on strike simultaneously at the nation’s three largest auto makers – General Motors (GM), Ford, and Stellantis, which owns Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep.
The UAW is employing a new strategy with targeted, ‘stand up’ strikes.
‘This strategy will keep the companies guessing,’ said UAW President Shawn Fain. ‘It will give our negotiators maximum flexibility.’
The rest of the 146,000 unionized workers across the country will continue working. However, Fain did not rule out the possibility of a general strike.
Jim Farley, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company, speaks with the media after contract negotiations collapsed on Thursday night (Picture: AP)
‘If we need to go all out, we will,’ Fain said. ‘Everything is on the table.’
Negotiations stalled when the union was negotiating raises for its workers. UAW negotiators asked for a 40% raise, while GM offered 18%, Ford offered 20%, and Stellantis only 17.5%.
Both the union and the corporations have accused each other of not moving from their original offers, but the UAW has reportedly lowered their demand to 36%.
The union also wants employers to return to traditional pension and health care plans for new hires – benefits that were cut during the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent auto industry bailout.
The UAW says the Big 3 manufacturers can afford the raises due to record profits the companies have made since the last contract was signed in 2019.
Auto workers at the Ford plant in Wayne, Michigan arrive at the picket line shortly after their contracts expired at midnight (Picture: AP)
At least part of the profits come from increased sales of electric vehicles, which have also been pushed by the Biden administration.
Electric vehicles typically require fewer parts to build, requiring fewer workers on factory floors. The UAW is hoping to obtain protections for their workers, and guarantees that any jobs lost will be shifted to electric vehicle production.
On Friday afternoon, President Biden briefly addressed the strikes, offering words of support for workers and encouraging the car companies to share their record profits with workers.
‘Let’s be clear, no one wants a strike,’ Biden said. ‘But I respect workers right to use their options under the collective bargaining system. And I understand the workers’ frustration.’
He continued: ‘Over generations, auto workers sacrificed so much to keep the industry alive and strong, especially during the economic crisis during the pandemic. Workers deserve a fair share of the benefits they helped create for an enterprise.’
Biden also said the transition to electric vehicle manufacturing should be ‘fair and a win-win for auto workers and auto companies.’
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