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The UAW has reached a significant tentative agreement with Daimler Truck ahead of the contract’s expiration at midnight yesterday. This arose after a campaign and strike threat against the German auto industry giant. The four-year agreement contains major economic gains for 7300 workers, including raises of more than 25%, the end of wage tiers, and the introduction profit-sharing and Cost-of-Living (COLA) for the first time since Daimler workers organized with the UAW. In a direct address to membership last night, UAW President Shawn Fain outlined the deals, He also – Walter Reuther like – reflected on the historic nature of the fight for justice at Daimler Truck.
“Tonight, I’m in Charlotte, North Carolina, and I am honored to be joined by the badass bargaining committee representing over 7000 members at Daimler Truck North America,” Fain said. “We’re here tonight to announce a major victory for the members who build Freightliner and Western Star trucks and Thomas Built buses. Today, we reached a tentative agreement with Daimler. What started thirty-two years ago this month at the Mt. Holly plant, when the courageous 17-day strikers stood up and won a historic, first of its kind agreement, has come full circle.
“For months, we said that record profits should mean a record contract. And, UAW family, our determination and solidarity has delivered. We said: It shouldn’t matter if you build a heavy truck or a bus for Daimler, you should get paid the same for the same work. And we won equal pay for equal work, ending wage tiers at Daimler. ALL Daimler workers will receive a MINIMUM of a 25% general wage increase over the next four years. When this deal is ratified, you’ll get a 10% raise. Six months later, another 3%. Six months after that, another 3%. That’s a 16% raise in the first year of the deal, alone. For months, we said that record profits should mean a record contract. And, UAW family, our determination and solidarity has delivered.” Fain said.
Highlights of the Daimler contract.
- Wage tiers eliminated .
- Workers who make trucks and workers who make buses will get equal pay for equal work by the end of the contract.
- Lowest paid workers at Thomas Built Bus will see raises of over $8 an hour. Some TBB skilled trades members will get an more than a $17 an hour raise – more than. 60%.
- COLA , cost-of-living, is in place for the first time in Daimler history.
- Profit-sharing for the first time in Daimler history.
- Increased job security and increased the “build rates.” This guarantees a certain minimum number of vehicles will be built at each plant.
- The 5000 workers at Mercedes-Benz in Vance will have their vote to join the UAW from 13 to 17 May 2024.
“When we kicked off negotiations three weeks ago, we knew time was of the essence. We told the company: tick tock. Members were going to need to turn up the heat to get Daimler to move,” Fain said. “UAW family – you got Loud. You held practice pickets, hundreds of members strong. You wrote your own slogans and songs — “mother trucker” was my favorite. I saw the Tick Tock signs, t-shirts, videos. All in service of one goal: making sure everyone knows that we are a united membership, ready to fight, and ready to win what we deserve. Tonight, it’s clear the company, and the world, heard your message.”
Fain’ s Closing
- We build the product.
- We make the profits.
- We deserve a deal that reflects our hard work.
But you did more than just that.
- With this agreement, you said: a rising tide needs to lift every single boat. No one gets left behind.
- UAW Family, that is solidarity at its best. We win more when we stick together.
- They tried to stonewall us. But – we kept our eye on the clock. And when that deadline came closer, the company was suddenly ready to talk.
“So tonight, we celebrate,” Fain said.
AutoInformed on
More UAW campaign material
“Let’s talk about fairness at Mercedes-Benz in Alabama.”
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.
Badass UAW Bargaining Committee Gets Record Daimler Deal
Click for more.
The UAW has reached a significant tentative agreement with Daimler Truck ahead of the contract’s expiration at midnight yesterday. This arose after a campaign and strike threat against the German auto industry giant. The four-year agreement contains major economic gains for 7300 workers, including raises of more than 25%, the end of wage tiers, and the introduction profit-sharing and Cost-of-Living (COLA) for the first time since Daimler workers organized with the UAW. In a direct address to membership last night, UAW President Shawn Fain outlined the deals, He also – Walter Reuther like – reflected on the historic nature of the fight for justice at Daimler Truck.
“Tonight, I’m in Charlotte, North Carolina, and I am honored to be joined by the badass bargaining committee representing over 7000 members at Daimler Truck North America,” Fain said. “We’re here tonight to announce a major victory for the members who build Freightliner and Western Star trucks and Thomas Built buses. Today, we reached a tentative agreement with Daimler. What started thirty-two years ago this month at the Mt. Holly plant, when the courageous 17-day strikers stood up and won a historic, first of its kind agreement, has come full circle.
“For months, we said that record profits should mean a record contract. And, UAW family, our determination and solidarity has delivered. We said: It shouldn’t matter if you build a heavy truck or a bus for Daimler, you should get paid the same for the same work. And we won equal pay for equal work, ending wage tiers at Daimler. ALL Daimler workers will receive a MINIMUM of a 25% general wage increase over the next four years. When this deal is ratified, you’ll get a 10% raise. Six months later, another 3%. Six months after that, another 3%. That’s a 16% raise in the first year of the deal, alone. For months, we said that record profits should mean a record contract. And, UAW family, our determination and solidarity has delivered.” Fain said.
Highlights of the Daimler contract.
“When we kicked off negotiations three weeks ago, we knew time was of the essence. We told the company: tick tock. Members were going to need to turn up the heat to get Daimler to move,” Fain said. “UAW family – you got Loud. You held practice pickets, hundreds of members strong. You wrote your own slogans and songs — “mother trucker” was my favorite. I saw the Tick Tock signs, t-shirts, videos. All in service of one goal: making sure everyone knows that we are a united membership, ready to fight, and ready to win what we deserve. Tonight, it’s clear the company, and the world, heard your message.”
Fain’ s Closing
But you did more than just that.
“So tonight, we celebrate,” Fain said.
AutoInformed on
More UAW campaign material
“Let’s talk about fairness at Mercedes-Benz in Alabama.”
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.