Click for more Data For Progress.
Yesterday afternoon the UAW expanded its Big Three strike to Ford’s Chicago Assembly (Explorer, Lincoln Aviator SUVs) and GM’s Lansing Delta Township plants (Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse crossovers). There was no additional strike action announced at Stellantis, because of “considerable progress in bargaining” moments before UAW president Shawn Fain talked to members on a Face Book live broadcast. “Stellantis made significant progress on the 2009 COLA, the right to not cross a picket line, as well as the right to strike over product commitments, plant closures, and outsourcing moratoriums,” Fain said. Then he went on.
“To be clear, negotiations have not broken down. We are still talking with all three companies. I am still very hopeful that we can reach a deal that reflects the incredible sacrifices and contributions our members have made over the last decade. But I also know that what we win at the bargaining table depends on the power we build on the job. It’s time to use that power. That is why I’m calling on an additional 7000 members across Ford and GM to go on strike starting at noon Eastern today,” said Fain.
The reactions from the CEOs at Ford and GM might do little to sway public opinion, which is growing to as much as ~79% approval of the UAW strike in recent poling. But eventually the unions and companies have to sign a new contract that both sides can live with. The one-percenters have been slow to recognize this in AutoInformed’s view. There are now ~25,000 UAW workers on strike.
However, there is evidence that the CEO’s are slowly realizing that the business as usual of wildly disproportionate compensation will have to give way to a more equitable sharing of the profits that UAW laborers make possible. They – the extremely wealthy CEOs and other senior execs – are also caught in the crosswinds of a resurgent workers movement for a greater share of the pie as the US economy continues to grow under Bidenomics despite the best efforts of the Federal Reserve and what remains of the Republican party, aka, the chaos caucus that is deliberately shutting down the US government with predictably disastrous economic results to come. This growing share the wealth movement starts at home with the Detroit Casino Workers strike authorization.* This will also spread without doubt to Las Vegas and to other casino locations. “We the people need” to come together on this with more, empathy, sharing and kindness.
Ford President and CEO Jim Farley said: “We are now two weeks into the first UAW strike at Ford in nearly 50 years. We have stayed quiet and worked around the clock in an effort to reach a deal. But with today’s strike expansion by the UAW, I think it’s time to share some facts and provide an update on the talks. Before we get into the details, I want to stress the importance of safety in this situation where emotions are running high. We can all treat each other with respect even in tough times. Here is the bottom line from Ford’s perspective:
- First, Ford has offered an incredible contract that would change the lives of our 57,000 workers for the better.
- Secondly, we believe the UAW is holding up the deal over battery plants that won’t come online for another two to three years.
- Finally, we still have time to reach an agreement and avert a real disaster – but not much time given our fragile supply base.
“Of all companies, Ford has been the most supportive of the UAW and manufacturing in America. We employ 57,000 UAW members – about 40% of the union’s Big Three membership. This adds significant cost – nearly $1 billion a year – to our business. We do it anyway because of our values. Ford built the middle class in this country. Our cross-town rivals have moved work south – even full-size trucks – to take advantage of lower-cost labor in Mexico. The non-union transplants and startups have fought tooth and nail to prevent the UAW from organizing their employees. Ford alone has added UAW jobs since the Great Recession.
“Since Sept. 12, we have continued to negotiate and improve our offer. In the fog of all this rhetoric, I think people are missing that Ford has stepped up with an historic offer. Bottom line: Someone needs to tell the truth about what’s really going on and what is at stake here, and it might as well be Ford.
- The union asked for historic gains for our workers. No problem.
- Record contract? No problem.
- Mortgage our future? That’s a big problem. We will never do it,” Farley said.
“I want to say a few words about EVs. They have become a political football and that’s a shame. I drove an F-150 Lightning across the western states recently and met so many people who love their EVs. Think about it. Tesla has become the most valuable auto company the world has ever known, and they are profitable and growing. Our customers love our EVs – they are new to our brand – and they are going to be blown away by our next-generation EVs. We are also working on fantastic internal combustion vehicles. Broncos, F-150s, Expeditions. Customers are going to decide, as they always do. Not all these people politicizing EVs.
“To wrap up, I truly believe that what is at stake here is the future of the domestic auto industry, the future of the industrial Midwest, and the future of good-paying manufacturing jobs. Other industries and other countries have lost their hometown manufacturing base. We can’t allow that to happen. That is why we are going to keep trying to reach an agreement with the UAW. As this strike shows, we can’t build vehicles in America without the UAW. And whether Shawn Fain believes it or not, the UAW needs a healthy Ford, GM and Stellantis to have a future. It’s going to take compromise and leadership to meet this moment,” Farley said. (See update below – added 2 October.)
GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra had similar views: “As we saw this week, UAW leadership continues to expand the strike while upping the rhetoric and the theatrics. It’s clear that there is no real intent to get to an agreement. Since negotiations started this summer, we’ve been available to bargain 24/7 on behalf of our represented team members and our company. They’ve demanded a record contract – and that’s exactly what we’ve offered for weeks now: a historic contract with record wage increases, record job security and world-class healthcare. It’s an offer that rewards our team members but does not put our company and their jobs at risk. Jeopardizing our future is something I will not do.
“By their own admission, the UAW leadership’s plan from the beginning has been to drag their membership into a long, unnecessary strike to further their own personal and political agendas. Their leaked text messages from last week stated their plan to keep us “wounded for months” and cause “recurring reputations damage and operational chaos.”
“It is clear Shawn Fain wants to make history for himself, but it can’t be to the detriment of our represented team members and the industry. Serious bargaining happens at the table, not in public, with two parties who are willing to roll up their sleeves to get a deal done. The UAW is pitting the companies against one another, but it’s a strategy that ultimately only helps the non-union competition. (Really? This ad hominem attack is beneath Ms Barra but sadly common in GM labor relations circles – AutoInformed: Labor Day – UAW Struggles Are Key to The American Dream)
“We need the UAW leadership at the bargaining table with the clear intent of reaching an agreement now. For them to do otherwise is putting our collective future at stake. My job is to build a thriving and successful company for decades to come – one with great products for our consumers built by the best manufacturing team on the planet and supported by an ecosystem of dealers and suppliers, all of whom contribute meaningfully to the economy,” claimed Barra. (See updates below – added 4 October and 9 October.)
Well, here’s Fain’s last words on the matter: “When we win this fight, when we right the wrongs of the past 15 years, and when we set a new course for future generations, it won’t be because of any President. Not the UAW President. Not the President of the United States. It will be because ordinary people did extraordinary things. Our solidarity is our strength. And right now, our strength is the hope of working-class people everywhere. Let’s Stand Up and win this thing. For ourselves. For our families. For our communities. For our country. And for our future.”
Casino Strike Looming
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*At 09:40 pm last night, the Detroit Casino Council announced that members from MGM Grand Detroit, Hollywood at Greektown and MotorCity casinos voted 99% “yes” to authorize a strike, if deemed necessary by the worker negotiating committee. Workers gathered the Teamsters Hall – 7 am – 9 pm – to cast their ballots with the results revealed shortly after the polls closed and ballots were counted.
“After the COVID shutdowns, Detroit casino workers sacrificed raises and shouldered heavier workloads so the industry could recover. In September 2020, the DCC agreed to a 3-year contract extension with minimal wage increases to help their employers get back on their feet. Following the end of COVID restrictions and the legalization of online gaming, industry gaming revenues have now surpassed pre-pandemic levels to a new record high, but Detroit’s casino workers are getting left behind. Workers are hoping to win contract gains that would bring Detroit casino jobs back in line with the standard of good jobs that were promised to hospitality workers when voters approved legalizing casino gaming in 1996 and the City Council later authorized the three casinos, the union said. In 2022, the Detroit casino industry generated $2.27 billion in gaming revenue through in-person and online gaming, the highest ever in the history of the industry. So far in 2023, reports from January through August show that revenues are even higher than last year, on track for another record-breaking year.
“Workers have been negotiating since early September, with a focus on securing wage increases that could make Detroit’s casino jobs family-sustaining jobs once again. Other issues include strengthening retirement and securing protections for workers impacted by the implementation of new technology. The strike authorization secured in Friday’s vote puts the decision of when and where to strike in the hands of the Detroit Casino Council (DCC) worker negotiating committee, which is made up of 5 unions that represent most of the workers at the 3 casinos: UNITE HERE Local 24, UAW, Teamsters Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 324, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters. The DCC could call for strikes as soon as mid-October when contracts expire.
“Workers are fed up in an economy that is broken: costs keep going up, but when profits came back to the gaming industry, they didn’t go into workers’ pockets. Just like auto workers, Blue Cross Blue Shield staff, UPS workers, writers, and hotel workers, Detroit casino workers are considering all options available to make sure one job in a Detroit casino is enough to raise a family on. We expect the casinos to heed our concerns to avoid a strike,” said Nia Winston, UNITE HERE Local 24 President.
“Detroit’s casino workers of the Detroit Casino Council voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike today because we’re the people who worked with the companies through COVID and put in the time, energy, hard work. The casino companies are making more than their fair share. But we’re not making ours. The message our members are sending to these companies is that the casino workers at MGM Grand, MotorCity and Hollywood at Greektown are ready to stand together and fight for what we deserve. I’m proud of my coworkers for taking this step to take care of their families and enjoy their lives,” said Terri Sykes, UAW Local 7777 President, MotorCity Casino table games.
Ford UAW Offer Update – 2 October
At Ford Motor progress remains slow…
GM UAW Strike Update 2 – 9 October
GM UAW Strike Update 1 – 4 October
GM UAW Strike – Update 4 October 2023, according to General Motors. At least the name calling is finally absent or on hiatus at GM.
UAW Strike Expands as Ford and GM Execs Squawk
Click for more Data For Progress.
Yesterday afternoon the UAW expanded its Big Three strike to Ford’s Chicago Assembly (Explorer, Lincoln Aviator SUVs) and GM’s Lansing Delta Township plants (Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse crossovers). There was no additional strike action announced at Stellantis, because of “considerable progress in bargaining” moments before UAW president Shawn Fain talked to members on a Face Book live broadcast. “Stellantis made significant progress on the 2009 COLA, the right to not cross a picket line, as well as the right to strike over product commitments, plant closures, and outsourcing moratoriums,” Fain said. Then he went on.
“To be clear, negotiations have not broken down. We are still talking with all three companies. I am still very hopeful that we can reach a deal that reflects the incredible sacrifices and contributions our members have made over the last decade. But I also know that what we win at the bargaining table depends on the power we build on the job. It’s time to use that power. That is why I’m calling on an additional 7000 members across Ford and GM to go on strike starting at noon Eastern today,” said Fain.
The reactions from the CEOs at Ford and GM might do little to sway public opinion, which is growing to as much as ~79% approval of the UAW strike in recent poling. But eventually the unions and companies have to sign a new contract that both sides can live with. The one-percenters have been slow to recognize this in AutoInformed’s view. There are now ~25,000 UAW workers on strike.
However, there is evidence that the CEO’s are slowly realizing that the business as usual of wildly disproportionate compensation will have to give way to a more equitable sharing of the profits that UAW laborers make possible. They – the extremely wealthy CEOs and other senior execs – are also caught in the crosswinds of a resurgent workers movement for a greater share of the pie as the US economy continues to grow under Bidenomics despite the best efforts of the Federal Reserve and what remains of the Republican party, aka, the chaos caucus that is deliberately shutting down the US government with predictably disastrous economic results to come. This growing share the wealth movement starts at home with the Detroit Casino Workers strike authorization.* This will also spread without doubt to Las Vegas and to other casino locations. “We the people need” to come together on this with more, empathy, sharing and kindness.
Ford President and CEO Jim Farley said: “We are now two weeks into the first UAW strike at Ford in nearly 50 years. We have stayed quiet and worked around the clock in an effort to reach a deal. But with today’s strike expansion by the UAW, I think it’s time to share some facts and provide an update on the talks. Before we get into the details, I want to stress the importance of safety in this situation where emotions are running high. We can all treat each other with respect even in tough times. Here is the bottom line from Ford’s perspective:
“Of all companies, Ford has been the most supportive of the UAW and manufacturing in America. We employ 57,000 UAW members – about 40% of the union’s Big Three membership. This adds significant cost – nearly $1 billion a year – to our business. We do it anyway because of our values. Ford built the middle class in this country. Our cross-town rivals have moved work south – even full-size trucks – to take advantage of lower-cost labor in Mexico. The non-union transplants and startups have fought tooth and nail to prevent the UAW from organizing their employees. Ford alone has added UAW jobs since the Great Recession.
“Since Sept. 12, we have continued to negotiate and improve our offer. In the fog of all this rhetoric, I think people are missing that Ford has stepped up with an historic offer. Bottom line: Someone needs to tell the truth about what’s really going on and what is at stake here, and it might as well be Ford.
“I want to say a few words about EVs. They have become a political football and that’s a shame. I drove an F-150 Lightning across the western states recently and met so many people who love their EVs. Think about it. Tesla has become the most valuable auto company the world has ever known, and they are profitable and growing. Our customers love our EVs – they are new to our brand – and they are going to be blown away by our next-generation EVs. We are also working on fantastic internal combustion vehicles. Broncos, F-150s, Expeditions. Customers are going to decide, as they always do. Not all these people politicizing EVs.
“To wrap up, I truly believe that what is at stake here is the future of the domestic auto industry, the future of the industrial Midwest, and the future of good-paying manufacturing jobs. Other industries and other countries have lost their hometown manufacturing base. We can’t allow that to happen. That is why we are going to keep trying to reach an agreement with the UAW. As this strike shows, we can’t build vehicles in America without the UAW. And whether Shawn Fain believes it or not, the UAW needs a healthy Ford, GM and Stellantis to have a future. It’s going to take compromise and leadership to meet this moment,” Farley said. (See update below – added 2 October.)
GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra had similar views: “As we saw this week, UAW leadership continues to expand the strike while upping the rhetoric and the theatrics. It’s clear that there is no real intent to get to an agreement. Since negotiations started this summer, we’ve been available to bargain 24/7 on behalf of our represented team members and our company. They’ve demanded a record contract – and that’s exactly what we’ve offered for weeks now: a historic contract with record wage increases, record job security and world-class healthcare. It’s an offer that rewards our team members but does not put our company and their jobs at risk. Jeopardizing our future is something I will not do.
“By their own admission, the UAW leadership’s plan from the beginning has been to drag their membership into a long, unnecessary strike to further their own personal and political agendas. Their leaked text messages from last week stated their plan to keep us “wounded for months” and cause “recurring reputations damage and operational chaos.”
“It is clear Shawn Fain wants to make history for himself, but it can’t be to the detriment of our represented team members and the industry. Serious bargaining happens at the table, not in public, with two parties who are willing to roll up their sleeves to get a deal done. The UAW is pitting the companies against one another, but it’s a strategy that ultimately only helps the non-union competition. (Really? This ad hominem attack is beneath Ms Barra but sadly common in GM labor relations circles – AutoInformed: Labor Day – UAW Struggles Are Key to The American Dream)
“We need the UAW leadership at the bargaining table with the clear intent of reaching an agreement now. For them to do otherwise is putting our collective future at stake. My job is to build a thriving and successful company for decades to come – one with great products for our consumers built by the best manufacturing team on the planet and supported by an ecosystem of dealers and suppliers, all of whom contribute meaningfully to the economy,” claimed Barra. (See updates below – added 4 October and 9 October.)
Well, here’s Fain’s last words on the matter: “When we win this fight, when we right the wrongs of the past 15 years, and when we set a new course for future generations, it won’t be because of any President. Not the UAW President. Not the President of the United States. It will be because ordinary people did extraordinary things. Our solidarity is our strength. And right now, our strength is the hope of working-class people everywhere. Let’s Stand Up and win this thing. For ourselves. For our families. For our communities. For our country. And for our future.”
Casino Strike Looming
Click for more.
*At 09:40 pm last night, the Detroit Casino Council announced that members from MGM Grand Detroit, Hollywood at Greektown and MotorCity casinos voted 99% “yes” to authorize a strike, if deemed necessary by the worker negotiating committee. Workers gathered the Teamsters Hall – 7 am – 9 pm – to cast their ballots with the results revealed shortly after the polls closed and ballots were counted.
“After the COVID shutdowns, Detroit casino workers sacrificed raises and shouldered heavier workloads so the industry could recover. In September 2020, the DCC agreed to a 3-year contract extension with minimal wage increases to help their employers get back on their feet. Following the end of COVID restrictions and the legalization of online gaming, industry gaming revenues have now surpassed pre-pandemic levels to a new record high, but Detroit’s casino workers are getting left behind. Workers are hoping to win contract gains that would bring Detroit casino jobs back in line with the standard of good jobs that were promised to hospitality workers when voters approved legalizing casino gaming in 1996 and the City Council later authorized the three casinos, the union said. In 2022, the Detroit casino industry generated $2.27 billion in gaming revenue through in-person and online gaming, the highest ever in the history of the industry. So far in 2023, reports from January through August show that revenues are even higher than last year, on track for another record-breaking year.
“Workers have been negotiating since early September, with a focus on securing wage increases that could make Detroit’s casino jobs family-sustaining jobs once again. Other issues include strengthening retirement and securing protections for workers impacted by the implementation of new technology. The strike authorization secured in Friday’s vote puts the decision of when and where to strike in the hands of the Detroit Casino Council (DCC) worker negotiating committee, which is made up of 5 unions that represent most of the workers at the 3 casinos: UNITE HERE Local 24, UAW, Teamsters Local 1038, Operating Engineers Local 324, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters. The DCC could call for strikes as soon as mid-October when contracts expire.
“Workers are fed up in an economy that is broken: costs keep going up, but when profits came back to the gaming industry, they didn’t go into workers’ pockets. Just like auto workers, Blue Cross Blue Shield staff, UPS workers, writers, and hotel workers, Detroit casino workers are considering all options available to make sure one job in a Detroit casino is enough to raise a family on. We expect the casinos to heed our concerns to avoid a strike,” said Nia Winston, UNITE HERE Local 24 President.
“Detroit’s casino workers of the Detroit Casino Council voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike today because we’re the people who worked with the companies through COVID and put in the time, energy, hard work. The casino companies are making more than their fair share. But we’re not making ours. The message our members are sending to these companies is that the casino workers at MGM Grand, MotorCity and Hollywood at Greektown are ready to stand together and fight for what we deserve. I’m proud of my coworkers for taking this step to take care of their families and enjoy their lives,” said Terri Sykes, UAW Local 7777 President, MotorCity Casino table games.
Ford UAW Offer Update – 2 October
At Ford Motor progress remains slow…
GM UAW Strike Update 2 – 9 October
Even if UAW Leaders approve the latest offer, there is no guarantee that the workers will accept it as the Mack Trucks strike that started today shows. See AutoInformed on: UAW Now on Strike at Mack Trucks in Three States.
GM UAW Strike Update 1 – 4 October
GM UAW Strike – Update 4 October 2023, according to General Motors. At least the name calling is finally absent or on hiatus at GM.