UAW President Shawn Fain Criticizes Detroit 3’s Offers, Threatens Stand-Up Strike

UAW President Shawn Fain criticized the latest offers from the Detroit 3 automakers during a Facebook Live session on Wednesday. Fain described the offers, which included up to 20 percent raises, as insulting and stated that the union would likely take action to secure fair deals for its members.

In the live session, Fain revealed the UAW’s plan to potentially strike all three automakers with a new strategy called a “stand-up strike.” This strategy would involve specific locals walking off the job while others continue to work under the expired contract. Fain compared it to the sit-down strikes of the union’s early days.

Fain emphasized the flexibility and effectiveness of the stand-up strike, stating that it would keep the companies guessing and require discipline, organization, and creativity from the union. He announced that the names of the first wave of plants participating in the strike would be revealed two hours before the contracts expired.

Fain also provided details on the automakers’ recent proposals. Ford offered a 20 percent wage increase, while General Motors offered 18 percent and Stellantis offered 17.5 percent. All three companies proposed reducing the time it takes for employees to reach top wages from eight years to four years.

The companies differed on the issue of temporary workers. Ford offered to convert all current temps with 90 days of continuous service into full-time employees. GM’s offer was described by Fain as inadequate, lacking profit-sharing and offering a minimal wage increase. Stellantis had a similar offer to GM, with no path to full-time status for temporary workers.

Regarding cost-of-living adjustments, Ford was willing to restore an old COLA formula but with wage protection of less than $1 over the next four and a half years. GM and Stellantis offered a formula that provided zero wage protection throughout the next contract. Fain also mentioned that the profit-sharing formulas offered by the companies were less generous than before.

Fain expressed disappointment that the companies continued to reject the union’s job security, work-life balance, and retiree priorities. The job security priorities included reinstating a jobs bank to provide continued pay for workers during layoffs, and the work-life balance proposal called for a four-day workweek at five days’ worth of pay.

While progress has been made at the negotiating tables, Fain stated that the companies’ offers did not reflect the sacrifices and contributions made by UAW members. In response to Fain’s comments, GM and Stellantis expressed their commitment to bargaining in good faith and reaching a tentative agreement before the collective bargaining agreement expires.

Ford CEO Jim Farley defended the company’s offers and criticized the union for focusing on planning strikes and PR events instead of engaging in genuine negotiations. He described Ford’s latest offer as historically generous and expressed disappointment that no counteroffer had been received.

Fain concluded the livestream with a call to action, describing the contract negotiations as a defining moment for the union and emphasizing the power of unity and determination among workers.