After the deadline to reach a new deal passed last week, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union began a targeted strike against Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, which currently impacts only the Michigan Assembly plant for The Blue Oval, which builds the Ford Bronco and Ford Ranger and employs around 3,300 people – though the automaker just laid off 600 workers there as a direct result of this strike. Though talks between Ford and the UAW continue, both sides are seemingly far apart on at least one hot button issue – pay increases – and the union has threatened to take addition action if it doesn’t make tangible progress by Friday. In the meantime, the White House is sending two of its own to Detroit to help move these talks along, but it doesn’t seem as if UAW President Shawn Fain is interested in that assistance, according to CNBC.
When asked if the Biden Administration could play a role in helping the two sides come to an agreement, Fain replied “not at all.” “This battle is not about the president,” he said. “It’s not about the former president or any other person prior to that. This battle is about the workers standing up for economic and social justice and getting their fair share because they’re fed up with going backwards.”
The Biden Administration sent acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and White House senior advisor Gene Sperling to Detroit this week to assist in any way possible, with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen adding that the administration wants a “win-win” deal. “The two sides need to narrow their disagreements and to work for a contract that’s good for the workers and for the industry as well,” she said. Regardless, the UAW and all three Detroit automakers remain “far apart” in negotiations, according to Fain.
While all three automakers are now offering the UAW a 20 percent pay increase, the union is reportedly seeking a recently-lowered ask of around 36 percent. Otherwise, the union is asking for the return of cost of living increases, the end of tiered pay systems, pensions for new hires, increased pensions for retirees, and a four-day, 32-hour full time work week.
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Comments
I think UAW President Shawn Fain is a much tougher and smarter opponent than anyone expected. These negotiations are interesting to watch.
The Biden admin talking about coming to help but not actually helping checks out.
I still maintain that neither side really wants a speedy end to this. The UAW appears to be reaching for the moon, and the automakers are looking for the strike to solve their excess inventory issues.
Send VP Harris, she will solve this like she did with the border.
Fain is a hypocrite. On July 20, he had a visit at the White House, seeking support. Now, he doesn’t want it. Why? Because everyone outside the UAW knows Fain lacks sensibility. He says the OEMs are not negotiating, but his definition of “negotiation“ is to reject every offer that doesn’t match 100% of his demands. HE is the person guilty of unfair labor practices.
Totally agree!
I have read that President Trump is going to skip the next debate as well and talk to UAW Michigan auto members. Hopefully they will not only listen to what President Trump has to say to them but will vote for him overwhelmingly. Joe Biden is the mortal enemy of American workers. This massive push for electric vehicles is not warranted and will do tremendous damage to American workers. The only people benefiting from EV’s are the Chinese and in particular the CCP. Just think about how well everything was in the U.S. and the world during President Trump’s term and how quickly everything has turned sour during Joe’s term, especially for the middle class. We have the ability to have relatively cheap gas for hundreds of years while EV’s can be developed in time and done right to where there is an infrastructure to support them and batteries can be produced relatively cheap and in the U.S. Take heed UAW workers as well as truckers and know that Biden is your enemy and President Trump, by comparison, is your best friend.
Love my EV Mustang Mach-E GT, and I’m not at all Chinese. Good Luck with the Orangemen, and ask him when is Mexico gonna start paying for the wall? I’ll take President Biden over Donald “Bone Spurs in my Heels, can’t serve my country” Trump all day long!
Joe Biden is not a friend of the UAW and all working class people. Over 7 million new workers have , crossed the southern border and its not slowing down. The democrats , Bill Clinton signed into law NAFTA that was the beginning of the end for working class people.Just about all manufacturing has went to china or Mexico……
Ford dont give in let them go with out food then they will be glad they have a job. What they want will brake Ford .Then they will not have a job. Then they can ask for food stamps from Biden an live in the street. Then they will be happy.