Click for more Greed.
As the UAW Big Three Strike continues tonight, the union released late this afternoon a new video called “Corporate Greed,” explaining what’s driving the ongoing strike at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. It has footage from the union’s rally in downtown Detroit on Friday, when thousands of UAW members and supporters gathered on the first day of their historic work action, which is called the “Stand Up Strike.” The video is here. A recent Gallup poll said that 75% of Americans back UAW members in their negotiations with the Big Three. Just 19% side with the companies.(AutoInformed: UAW on Strike at Select Ford, GM, Stellantis Plants; Unifor say Likelihood of Ford Strike at Midnight Increases)
“They pretend that the sky will fall if we get our fair share of the quarter of a trillion dollars the Big Three has made over the past decade,” UAW President Shawn Fain says in the video. “They want to say that our righteous fight for a higher quality of life for the working class would wreck the economy. We’re not going to wreck the economy; we’re going to wreck their economy because it only works for the billionaire class.” Fain is the first president in UAW history directly elected by members.
Following are UAW statistics that assert how members were left behind as the Big Three directed their profits to CEOs and wealthy investors. During the last four years:
- Big Three profits have increased 65%.
- CEO pay at the companies has gone up 40%.
- Big Three spending on stock buybacks is up 1500%.
- Average new car prices are up 34%.
- Inflation is up 20%.
- Autoworker wages are up just 6%.
Once again the UAW noted that Ford, General Motors and Stellantis all took more than a month to respond to the UAW’s Members’ Demands and in its view failed to put fair contract offers on the table. When the car companies’ contracts expired on Sept. 14, the UAW launched a “Stand Up Strike” and for the first time ever struck all of the Big Three at once.
The Stand Up Strike is a new sophisticated approach. Instead of striking all plants all at once, select locals have been called on to “Stand Up” and walk out on strike. If the automakers fail to offer fair contracts going forward, more locals will be called on to Stand Up and join the strike.
The first three plants to go out on strike are: GM Wentzville Assembly, Local 2250 in Region 4; Stellantis Toledo Assembly Complex, Local 12 in Region 2B; and Ford Michigan Assembly Plant – Final Assembly and Paint only, Local 900 in Region 1A.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
UAW Big Three Strike Continues
Click for more Greed.
As the UAW Big Three Strike continues tonight, the union released late this afternoon a new video called “Corporate Greed,” explaining what’s driving the ongoing strike at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. It has footage from the union’s rally in downtown Detroit on Friday, when thousands of UAW members and supporters gathered on the first day of their historic work action, which is called the “Stand Up Strike.” The video is here. A recent Gallup poll said that 75% of Americans back UAW members in their negotiations with the Big Three. Just 19% side with the companies.(AutoInformed: UAW on Strike at Select Ford, GM, Stellantis Plants; Unifor say Likelihood of Ford Strike at Midnight Increases)
“They pretend that the sky will fall if we get our fair share of the quarter of a trillion dollars the Big Three has made over the past decade,” UAW President Shawn Fain says in the video. “They want to say that our righteous fight for a higher quality of life for the working class would wreck the economy. We’re not going to wreck the economy; we’re going to wreck their economy because it only works for the billionaire class.” Fain is the first president in UAW history directly elected by members.
Following are UAW statistics that assert how members were left behind as the Big Three directed their profits to CEOs and wealthy investors. During the last four years:
Once again the UAW noted that Ford, General Motors and Stellantis all took more than a month to respond to the UAW’s Members’ Demands and in its view failed to put fair contract offers on the table. When the car companies’ contracts expired on Sept. 14, the UAW launched a “Stand Up Strike” and for the first time ever struck all of the Big Three at once.
The Stand Up Strike is a new sophisticated approach. Instead of striking all plants all at once, select locals have been called on to “Stand Up” and walk out on strike. If the automakers fail to offer fair contracts going forward, more locals will be called on to Stand Up and join the strike.
The first three plants to go out on strike are: GM Wentzville Assembly, Local 2250 in Region 4; Stellantis Toledo Assembly Complex, Local 12 in Region 2B; and Ford Michigan Assembly Plant – Final Assembly and Paint only, Local 900 in Region 1A.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.