Erome - The head of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, Shawn Fain, on Wednesday (6/9) warned that his party was ready to hold a strike at all auto manufacturing plants in Detroit that did not comply with the new agreement they were demanding, when the old contract agreement expires next week.
In an interview with The Associated Press , Fain reiterated previous statements that the UAW would target Detroit's three largest automakers, General Motors, Ford and Stellantis (formerly known as Fiat-Chrysler), leaving the door open to one or more new deals.
A strike against the three companies known as “The Detroit Three” could harm not only the auto industry, but also the entire Midwest economy, and ultimately send vehicle prices skyrocketing.
When asked whether his union would target any companies that had not reached a tentative contract agreement when the previous agreement expired on September 14, Fain answered briefly "that's the plan."
The union's long-standing demands include a 46% pay increase, a reduction in working hours from 40 hours per week to 32 hours per week, the restoration of traditional pension funds and union representation at the new battery factory.
At the same time, Fain opened up the opportunity to prevent a strike. He acknowledged that the UAW would have to withdraw some of its demands to reach an agreement.
The work contracts with the three vehicle manufacturing companies will end on September 14, at 23.59 local time.
Big Profile of “The Detroit Three”
In the past decade, “The Detroit Three,” which includes General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, have emerged as the auto companies making extraordinary profits. Over the past ten years, the three companies have collectively posted net profits of US$164 billion. As much as $20 billion of this will be achieved in 2023 alone. The CEOs of all three automakers earn annual compensation worth millions of dollars.
Speaking to Ford workers at a factory in Louisville, Kentucky, last month, Fain complained about one standard for the corporate class and another for workers.
“They get wages out of control. They got pensions they didn't even need. They get the best health services. They work according to the schedule they want. Meanwhile our union members don't get pensions, health care is subpar and can never work remotely. This is crazy," he said.
According to the Anderson Economic Group, if the strike lasts just 10 days, the three automakers will suffer losses of nearly $1 billion.
When UAWA workers went on strike for 40 days in 2019, General Motors alone suffered losses of $3.6 billion.
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