29 November, 2023In September, US affiliate UAW launched a strike, the Stand Up Strike, for better wages and conditions at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. After more than 40 days of strike action the union had achieved record contracts, now ratified by UAW members.
Across the Big Three, 64 per cent of the voting members voted in favour of the agreements.
“After years of cutbacks, months of our Stand Up campaign, and weeks on the picket line, we have turned the tide for the American autoworker,” says UAW president Shawn Fain. “The UAW is back to setting the standard. Now, we take our strike muscle and our fighting spirit to the rest of the industries we represent, and to millions of non-union workers ready to Stand Up and fight for a better way of life.”
The record contracts for the 150,000 UAW autoworkers include significant wage increases, faster progression to the top wage rate, agreements from the Big 3 that will bring thousands of EV battery and assembly jobs under the national agreements and improved retirement security for all active and retired members.
In what is referred to as the UAW bump, the contracts will benefit more auto workers than the UAW members. Non-unionized auto companies including Volkswagen, Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, Subaru and Honda are following suit and have raised wages for hourly workers since the UAW deals were announced.
Says IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie:
“This is an important win for UAW which will have a profound effect on their members, but it is also an inspiring win for the union movement around the world. When we come together, we win!”
Photo credit: UAW