UAW Launches Historic Simultaneous Strike: GM, Ford And Stellantis Plants To Face Picket Lines

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has kickstarted their simultaneous strike against the Detroit three automakers after failing to agree on pay hikes and other amenities.

As per plans outlined by UAW President Shawn Fain in a Facebook live at 10 p.m. ET, workers staged a simultaneous walkout at three factories- General Motors Co‘s GM Missouri assembly plant, Ford Motor Co‘s F Michigan assembly plant and Stellantis NV‘s STLA Ohio assembly plant. Only those from the final assembly and paint segments were called to join the strike at the Ford Michigan assembly plant. This is a new approach planned by the union instead of all plants striking at once.

Fain said that the locals who have not been called upon to strike will continue to work under the expired agreement without contract extensions. The union President further hinted that the strike may also be expanded to other plants.

"We are committed to winning an agreement with the big three that reflects the incredible sacrifice and contributions UAW members have made to these companies," Fain said.

This is the first time that the union, which has over 400,000 active members, has commenced a strike on all three automakers simultaneously. "As time goes on, more locals may be called on to "Stand Up" and join the strike. This gives us maximum leverage and maximum flexibility in our fight to win a fair contract at each of the Big Three automakers," UAW said on its website.

The union president himself joined the striking members at Ford’s Michigan plant. “Enough is enough. It's time to decide what kind of a world we want to live in. And it's time to decide what we are willing to do to get there,” he said.

UAW's demands include a 40% pay hike by September 2027, amongst other amenities, including overtime pay, personal time, pension, and profit-sharing. The union accepted none of the three automakers’ counter offers, paving the way for the strike. All three companies offered only up to 20% pay hikes.

“Our employers only value one thing: profit. They do not value us, and the only way the working class advances is if we stand together,” UAW said on Facebook.

Photo via Shutterstock.

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