Just like UAW President Shawn Fain desired, the United Auto Workers strike is pitting blue-collar workers against wealthy businessmen in the Motor City.
Less than 24 hours into a work stoppage, the outspoken union leader has weaponized striking—traditionally a last resort for the union—possibly better than any UAW president in recent memory. After decades of almost total obscurity, Fain, a quirky but confident leader, has painstakingly brought the UAW back into the national spotlight. He wants to speak for both union members and the country’s struggling middle class, which the UAW helped to establish.
He has done this by using the long-standing national labor movement and the growing disdain for affluent people and businesses among many Americans. He did this by speaking to the union’s more than 400,000 members for the first time at his inaugural speech in March.
At the time, Fain stated, “We’re here to unite and prepare ourselves for the war against our one and only real enemy, multibillion-dollar corporations and employers who refuse to give our members their fair share.” “In the UAW, it’s a new day.” Fain reiterated what he said during that first address in his remarks on Friday morning as he joined UAW sympathizers and members picketing outside one of three Ford facilities in Michigan.
“We got to do what we got to do to get our fair share of economic and social justice in this strike,” Fain stated outside the Ford Bronco SUV and Ranger truck plant. “We’ll remain here until we receive our fair share of economic justice. Additionally, it is irrelevant how long it takes.
Growingly, Fain has discussed his strong unionism and religious convictions with members as he stresses “faith” in the UAW’s cause. These ideas are influenced by his background. One grandfather started working at Chrysler in 1937, the year the employees joined the union, and two of his grandparents were UAW GM retirees. Even now, Fain, who joined the UAW in 1994, maintains a pay stub from his grandfather in his wallet as “a reminder” of his roots.
When Fain said that the union would not support President Joe Biden for reelection despite Biden calling himself the “most pro-union president in history,” the national media and others began paying close attention to him. Although Fain and Biden have spoken and met, the union president has not received much of Fain’s backing. Fain responded to the president’s remarks on Friday by saying: “Working folks are not terrified. You know who is frightened? Fear grips the corporate media. White House is terrified. The businesses are scared.
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While many previous union leaders have talked the same language, Fain has so far kept his word to the membership without raising an eyebrow, which has caused General Motors, Ford Motor, and Stellantis to enter crisis mode this week as the UAW keeps its word to the membership.
Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, stated of the situation, “We’ve never seen anything like this; it’s frustrating,” while criticizing Fain and the union for, in his words, failing to communicate and making counteroffers. Shawn Fain isn’t negotiating this contract with us as it expires, for reasons I don’t know. Ford claimed that the UAW’s partial strike at its Michigan Assembly Plant had caused company to fire 600 workers in a statement released on Friday.
“This is not a lockout,” Ford insisted. “This layoff is a result of the final assembly and paint departments at Michigan Assembly Plant being on strike, as the 600 workers there construct components that require e-coating for protection. In the paint section, which is on strike, e-coating is finished.
Friday morning, GM CEO Mary Barra expressed similar sentiments. “I’m extremely frustrated and disappointed,” she said. “We don’t need to be on strike right now.” Without using those exact words, both CEOs did everything they could to convey their suspicion that Fain may not be bargaining in good faith, which might be grounds for filing a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.
The UAW charged GM and Stellantis with unfair labor practices in late August, claiming they failed to bargain with the union in good faith or on schedule. It didn’t protest about Ford in any way. These accusations have been refuted by GM and Stellantis.
The manner Fain has been able to put the UAW in the national spotlight, including stopping negotiations for a protest and march with Sen. Bernie Sanders, the progressive legislator from Vermont, has been praised by a number of former union officials and company negotiators . Sanders has supported several labor movements across the nation while railing against the billionaire class. His unexpected victory in Michigan’s Democratic presidential primary in 2016 helped to establish his national reputation.
Respected former UAW President Bob King said of the union, “I think they’re just doing an outstanding job,” pointing to increased public and union members’ support for the organization. Both metrics indicate that UAW communications have been excellent.
UAW participants have taken note
particularly after a number of them disliked the union leadership throughout and after a protracted federal corruption investigation that resulted in the imprisonment of two former UAW presidents and more than a dozen other people.
Anthony Dobbins, a 27-year veteran of the auto industry, stated while picketing the Ford plant in Michigan early on Friday morning, “For all the years that I’ve worked here, it’s never been this strong.” We’re attempting to obtain what we deserve, so this will go down in history.
Dobbins, a union representative for UAW Local 600, rejected the automakers’ most recent record offers, which included wage raises of around 20%, bonuses of thousands of dollars, the continuation of the union’s platinum health insurance, and other enhanced perks.
That doesn’t work for us. Give us what we requested, Dobbins commanded. We desire that, so. To make ends meet, we must work extra seven days a week.
The union’s main objectives have included a return to traditional pensions, the abolition of compensation tiers, a reduction in workweek length to 32 hours, and 40% hourly wage increases. Better vacation and family leave benefits, as well as improved retiree benefits, are also on the agenda.
Such requirements, according to the auto industry, would bankrupt the firms. Farley even claimed that if the union’s current demands were implemented, the company would have “gone bankrupt by now” and members would not have received the $75,000 in profit-sharing on average during the previous ten years.
According to Ford sources, if the present demands had been in place, the company would not have made over $30 billion in profits over the last four years but instead would have lost $14.4 billion.
In fact, according to Fain, UAW members should receive a portion of such gains. However, his plan to increase employees’ share of the pie is fraught with danger. Barra stated on Friday that “this is not going to be positive from an industry perspective or for GM.”
Many people outside the union think that if Fain presses too hard, it might result in the union losing jobs permanently. According to a former senior negotiator for one of the automakers, it is almost certain that the businesses will eliminate union positions through product allocation, facility closures, or other methods.
They will be required to make payment. How much is the question, the veteran negotiator added, agreeing to talk on the condition of anonymity. “This leads to a reduction in jobs. That is how automakers reduce expenses.
Fain and other union officials contend that compromising with businesses has resulted in the closure of numerous plants, a decline in union membership, and a widening gap between low-wage employees and the wealthy.
So why not engage in combat?
Fain remarked on Friday, “This is about us doing what we have to do to care for the working class.” “This goes beyond the UAW. This issue affects all workers in this nation. You should receive your fair share of equity regardless of your line of work.
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