Sept. 14 is the end date for collective bargaining agreements negotiated four years ago to apply to the 146,000 employees of the three major automakers, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler-Stellantis. 97% of members of the UAW, the auto workers union, voted to authorize a strike if an agreement for the next four years is not reached by September 14.
Pull Anticapitalism
September 14, 2023
By NPA’s self-critical blog
author of the photo
In front of the Stellantis Mack Detroit factory – DR
The demands of the UAW, the United States automotive union, include an immediate 20% wage increase, followed by four annual 5% increases, defined benefit pensions for all workers and longer 32-hour workweeks. The UAW also wants all temporary workers at American automakers to become permanent and indexation of wages to the cost of living to be restored.
UAW calls for 40% pay increase in four years
Stellantis, led by Tavares, has been in charge since the PSA-Fiat-Chrysler merger. His latest proposal, dated Friday, September 8, is limited for the next four years to a salary increase of 14.5%. Newer employees, or those with “progress” status, would receive a 27% increase in their starting salary and a shorter period (six years, compared to eight years under the current agreement) to access the maximum salary. These offers are far from the UAW’s demands for 40% raises over the next four years and an end to the single system of temporary workers with fewer rights and lower wages.
No corruption, no concessions
The union’s previous leadership, implicated in corruption cases, was replaced after a massive vote in favor of a list whose motto was “No to corruption!”. No compromises! » ». New this year is the fact that it will be held simultaneously with the three major car manufacturers. The last major automobile strike in the United States four years ago only affected General Motors factories. Today the conditions are being prepared for a possible strike in the three main North American automotive companies, the first in decades.
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