“The Stand Up Strike was just the beginning. The UAW is back to setting standards. Now we are taking the spirit and fighting spirit of the strike to the other industries we represent and to the fight for a better life. To the millions of non-union workers who are ready to stand up and fight for the United States, we say so in a statement Monday.
The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of a contract between Ford and Stellantis workers. general motors closer Union workers. Five major GM factories voted against the deal last week, with some veteran workers protesting because they received lower raises than others.
The contract is concluded after paying the worker’s wages for a long time I can’t keep up Even after unions waived some of their benefits during the Great Recession, when automakers were struggling to survive due to inflation. Unions were able to restore many of these benefits in the new deal, including the reinstatement of regular cost-of-living wage adjustments to offset inflation. And he fought to reopen a large Stellantis factory. Belvidere, Illinois.
Some workers said they were disappointed that unions were unable to press automakers to restore defined benefit pensions and retiree health insurance for all workers. However, the deal increases contributions to a company’s 401(k) account to 10 percent of a worker’s wages. It also provides more paid time off and gives workers the right to strike over factory closures during the term of their contracts. The UAW considers this right important to protecting jobs.
UAW gains came in 1 year Increasing strike activity and workplace activities that helped workers in several U.S. industries win lucrative new contracts. Workers’ strikes have increased this year, resulting in big paychecks, amid a tight labor market, two years of high inflation and a resurgence of union enthusiasm.
The common theme throughout the strikes was to push for higher wages for minimum wage workers at each company. Under the UAW agreement, the highest-paid workers will receive at least a 25% raise to more than $40 an hour, while the lowest-paid workers will also receive up to a 160% increase, with wages expected to reach more than $40 an hour by the end of the year. is. That contract.
UPS employees threatened nationwide shutdown, won firing the strongest contract This summer, he forced the company to eliminate its lower-wage worker tier, securing a 48% raise over five years for part-time workers.Approximately 75,000 Kaiser healthcare workers won a solid wage increasewhile punching a Hollywood actor. won Largest minimum wage increase in 40 years.
The UAW began a targeted strike on September 15, initially closing just one plant at each company. Over time, this expanded the scope of the work stoppage to include dozens of auto parts warehouses and several more factories. important plants They produce some of the company’s most profitable pickup trucks and SUVs.
Ford CEO Jim Farley welcomed the ratification, saying the automaker was “very happy for our more than 57,000 UAW employees and their families.” At Ford, we believe in rewarding all of our employees and growing America’s middle class, and we’ve shown it in action over the years. ”
Farley said Ford is on track to reach full production at its factories again within days and must find ways to cut costs to offset increased labor costs. “The reality is that this collective agreement has added significant costs and we will have to work very hard on productivity and efficiency to be competitive,” he said.
Mark Stewart, Stellantis’ head of North America, said the company is focused on launching eight new electric vehicles in the U.S. next year.
GM CEO Mary Barra said the partnership “will reward our employees, protect the future of our business, and allow us to continue to provide good jobs in communities across America.” “It will be.”
