The UAW has expanded their strike against General Motors and Stellantis to an additional 38 facilities in 20 states.
UAW President Shawn Fain said the companies did “not make substantial progress toward a fair agreement,” so approximately 5,600 workers will join the roughly 13,000 who are already on strike. The latest action targets parts distribution facilities and will continue until the companies “come to the table with a serious offer.”
The union is now on strike at 20 additional Stellantis facilities including those in Auburn Hills, Center Line, Marysville, Romulus, and Warren in Michigan. Other strikes are also occurring at facilities in California, Colorado, Florida, Texas and New York. This is on top of the strike at Toledo Assembly, which is home to the Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler.
More: United Auto Workers Begin Strike At Ford, GM And Stellantis Plants
Over at GM, 18 facilities have been targeted including six in Michigan. Strikes are also occurring at parts distribution centers in California, Colorado, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas. The union also continues to strike at Wentzville Assembly, which makes the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.
The UAW didn’t expand their strike against Ford as the two sides made “substantial progress in bargaining over the last week.” Despite that, the union continues to strike at the Michigan Assembly Plant, which is home to the Bronco and Ranger.
The decision not to expand the strike at Ford is interesting, but Fain said they’ve made “real progress” as “Rawsonville Components and Sterling Axle employees will now be on the same wage scale as assembly workers. We have eliminated that entire wage tier.” He added cost of living adjustments have been reinstated after being suspended in 2009.
Fain went on to say the union won the “right to strike over plant closures during the life of our agreement” as well as layoff protection that includes “income security for up to two years with healthcare.” The union also announced benefits for temporary employees as well as an “enhanced profit-sharing formula that would have resulted in a 13.3% increase for the average employee in payouts last year.” Of course, negotiations continue and only time will tell what is in the final contract with Ford.
