UAW President Shawn Fain calls for an additional 7,000 workers to go on strike
(CBS DETROIT) - United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain on Friday called for an additional 7,000 UAW workers to strike at noon Friday.
Fain called for UAW workers to walk out at noon at GM's Lansing Delta Assembly and Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant. Workers at Lansing Regional Stamping will continue working.
With Fain's announcement, it brings the total number of striking UAW workers to approximately 25,000.
Fain said Friday that moments before his announcement, Stellantis had made tremendous progress in negotiations for the 2009 cost of living allowance, the right to not to cross a picket line, the right to strike over product commitments and plant closures, and outsourcing moratoriums. Fain said he is excited about the momentum with Stellantis.
Fain said that negotiations have not broken down, and the UAW is still talking with all three companies.
The UAW began striking against the Detroit Three at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14, following the expiration of contracts.
Initially, Fain announced strikes at one plant for each of Detroit's Big Three. Fain expanded the UAW's strike across 41 locations on Friday, Sept. 22.
Background on Friday's UAW strike expansion
Ford's Chicago Assembly
12600 S Torrence Ave, Chicago, Ill.
Local 551, Region 4
4,600 members
Products Made: Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator
GM's Lansing Delta Assembly
8175 Millett Hwy, Lansing, Mich.
Local 602, Region 1D
2,300 members
Products Made: Chevy Traverse, Buick Enclave
Stellantis says it has been "intensely working with the UAW"
In a statement issued by Stellantis Friday, the company said:
Stellantis has been intensely working with the UAW to find solutions to the issues that are of most concern to our employees while ensuring the Company can remain competitive given the market's fierce competition. We have made progress in our discussions, but gaps remain. We are committed to continue working through these issues in an expeditious manner to reach a fair and responsible agreement that gets everyone back to work as soon as possible.
Response from General Motors
Gerald Johnson, GM's executive vice president of global manufacturing and sustainability, issued the following statement Friday after Fain's announcement:
We still have not received a comprehensive counteroffer from UAW leadership to our latest proposal made on September 21. Calling more strikes is just for the headlines, not real progress. The number of people negatively impacted by these strikes is growing and includes our customers who buy and love the products we build. For our part, we continue to stand ready and willing to negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement that benefits you and doesn't let the non-union manufacturers win. Our current, record proposal that is on the table offers historic wage increases and job security while not jeopardizing our future. We're here to reach an agreement so we can all get back to work, and that remains our 100% focus. Be safe.