Union’s Fain says ‘more to be won’ despite record offers

Members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union picketed the General Motors Lansing Delta plant on September 29, 2023 in Delta Township, Michigan.

Rebecca Cook | Reuters

DETROIT — UAW President Sean Fein said Friday that the United Auto Workers union believes it is important to continue contract negotiations with the Detroit automakers after a five-week strike against them. “You can win more.”

He made comments despite record contract offer General Motors, Ford and star It now includes a 23% hourly pay increase over the four-and-a-half-year deal.

“There’s more to win,” Fein said during the online broadcast. “These are already record contracts, but they were signed at the end of decades of record recessions. So when autoworkers have gone backwards over the past two decades, it’s not enough to be the best contract ever. .That’s a very low bar.”

Fein said last week that the union was launching a “new phase” of strikes and contract negotiations. Still, the union has not announced any additional strikes since launching an unexpected strike on Oct. 11 at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant, which makes high-margin pickup trucks and SUVs.

The UAW has not expanded its strike against General Motors since September 29, and it has not expanded its strike against Stellantis since September 22.

The strike at Ford’s Kentucky plant, which brings in $25 billion in annual revenue, marks a major escalation in the UAW’s targeted or “stand-up” strikes. It also represents a shift in strategy, as Fein had previously publicly announced goals before the shutdown occurred.

The UAW has been gradually intensifying the strike since the shutdown began after the two sides failed to reach a tentative agreement on Sept. 14.

About 34,000 U.S. automakers, or about 23% of UAW members covered by expiring contracts with Detroit automakers, went on strike.

This is breaking news. Please check back for additional updates.

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