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The United Auto Workers went on strike early Friday at Ford Motor Co.'s Bronco plant in Wayne, Stellantis NV's Jeep Wrangler plant in Toledo and a General Motor Co. plant in Missouri as a deadline set by the union to reach new contracts expired.
The walkouts involving 12,900 workers mark the first time in the union's more than 80-year history that it has struck all three Detroit automakers at once.
Moments after the strike started at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant, union President Shawn Fain arrived at the UAW Local 900 hall to much fanfare. Thousands of UAW members and journalists swarmed the union leader, who answered questions before leading the crowd on a short march across Michigan Avenue to stand directly in front of Michigan Assembly Plant.
"This union is making history," he said. "This is our time."
Fain said he expected to be back at the bargaining table with the automakers on Saturday. He's scheduled to appear at a rally Friday afternoon in downtown Detroit with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
The plants struck by the union produce popular midsize trucks, off-roading SUVs and commercial vans. Workers in the final assembly and paint shop only walked out at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant. It makes the Ranger midsize pickup and the Bronco off-roading SUV and employs about 4,600 hourly workers, according to Ford's website. Local 900 in Region 1A represents those members.
Outside the Toledo Assembly Complex, local political leaders and fellow autoworkers clapped and cheered, yelling "Here we go!" as the first UAW members walked and drove out of the plant along I-75 shortly after midnight.
It was bittersweet taking those steps, said Joyce Jones, 51, of Toledo, a 10-year UAW member who works in quality inspection.
"It was sad, but it'll be worth it," she said while holding a strike sign in front of a gate off Stickney Avenue. "It's shameful the CEOs are not willing to give their workers what we deserve. We have TPTs (temporary part-time or supplemental workers) who have been part-time for five or six years. They need to be rolled over."
Jacquel McNeal, 30, of Toledo is one such supplemental worker. January would mark three years for her. She is paid $17.53 an hour, and as a single mother, supports four children ages ranging 7 to 13.
"I do what I can," McNeal said. "It's all on my way. (The recent increase in consumer items) has been a lot."
As vehicles honked while passing the picketers and even blasted music, autoworkers hooted and jumped up and down.
The energy was exciting, McNeal said, adding: "I want better."
Automakers, officials react
GM and Stellantis expressed disappointment in the UAW's decision to launch the strikes in statements early Friday.
“The UAW has informed GM that they are on strike at Wentzville Assembly in Missouri as of 11:59 PM," spokesperson David Barnas said. "We are disappointed by the UAW leadership's actions, despite the unprecedented economic package GM put on the table, including historic wage increases and manufacturing commitments. We will continue to bargain in good faith with the union to reach an agreement as quickly as possible for the benefit of our team members, customers, suppliers and communities across the U.S. In the meantime, our priority is the safety of our workforce.”
"We are extremely disappointed by the UAW leadership's refusal to engage in a responsible manner to reach a fair agreement in the best interest of our employees, their families and our customers," Stellantis spokesperson Jodi Tinson said. "We immediately put the Company in contingency mode and will take all the appropriate structural decisions to protect our North American operations and the Company."
In a statement from Ford spokesperson Jessica Enoch just after 10 p.m. Thursday, the company confirmed it had received "its first substantive counterproposal" from the UAW around 8 p.m. The company said the counter offer "showed little movement from the union's initial demands submitted Aug. 3."
"If implemented, the proposal would more than double Ford’s current UAW-related labor costs, which are already significantly higher than the labor costs of Tesla, Toyota and other foreign-owned automakers in the United States that utilize non-union-represented labor," the statement said. "Ford has bargained in good faith in an effort to avoid a strike, which could have wide-ranging consequences for our business and the economy."
Sandy Baruah, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, expressed concern about the impact of the union's action in a statement early Friday: "The strike by the UAW not only impacts Michigan’s signature industry, it disproportionately impacts Michigan residents, especially those in the middle class. Every OEM auto job impacts between seven to 10 other jobs, which are all at risk as the strike shuts down the industry."
Michigan political leaders also weighed in, with Democratic lawmakers expressing support for the UAW's action in pursuit of its bargaining goals. U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell of Ann Arbor and Rashida Tlaib of Detroit joined picketing workers early Friday outside the Ford plant in Wayne.
“I stand in solidarity with UAW workers as they strike to fight for a contract that gives them the wages, job security, and benefits they deserve," U.S. Sen. Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township said in a statement. "UAW members made huge sacrifices to help save the auto industry in 2008 and now that the Big Three are making historic profits, the workers deserve to get their fair share of the success."
The picket line was a family affair for some.
Adelisa Lebron of Detroit, a Local 900 worker who works at Michigan Assembly on the engine line, was there with her teenage daughter, sister-in-law and mother. Lebron said that even after three years working there, she does not earn enough to support her family.
"Being a single mom with three kids with what I’m making right now, it’s not cutting it," she said.
Her mother, Marilyn Lebron, works at Ford's Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn. She's worked at Ford for 21 years and said she wants the same conditions she once enjoyed for her children and grandchildren.
"She’s a single mom. She’s raising three children. She should be at full pay," Marilyn Lebron said of her daughter. “We had COLA. We had everything. And I want her and my grandchildren to have those things."
Another family member, Alexandria Cosme-Reyna, works at REVC and said she struggles to support her six children on her wages: “I live paycheck to paycheck.”
The other two plants affected by the strike produce popular, profitable products too.
GM's Wentzville Assembly outside of St. Louis produces the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize trucks and the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans. It employs 4,114 hourly and salaried workers, according to GM's website. Local 2250 in Region 4 represents those workers.
Stellantis’ Toledo Assembly Complex is home to its flagship Jeep Wrangler and its Gladiator midsize pickup brother — whose ’24 refreshed model was revealed at the Detroit auto show on Wednesday. Toledo employs 4,174 hourly workers, according to Stellantis’ website. Local 12 in Region 2B represents those employees.
Alicia Alonzo, 62, of Toledo, works first shift as a quality inspector at the Stellantis plant and isn't scheduled to picket until Sunday, but she had to be outside the plant at midnight.
"I'm happy about it," the nearly 30-year autoworker said of the strike. "I don't think we're asking for much: a little raise, for TPTs to be rolled over, some benefits for retirees. They put a lot of years into the plant. Some as many as 50 years.
"Autoworkers work very, very hard. Their people don't have to work on those concrete floors. Your back and knees hurt. When it's 100 degrees outside, it's 120 in there."
Among those greeting the strikers were Ohio state Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson, D-Toledo; Lucas County Commissioner Lisa Sobecki; Mike Pniewski, Lucas County engineer; and state Rep. Elgin Rogers, D-Toledo.
"It's deficient, because they stood up, they bailed them out, and they worked through COVID," Sobecki said. "And they're still not fairly paid."
"Some of them have been TPTs for five years," added Rogers. "That ain't right."
Freeman Woodworth, 40, of Perrysburg, Ohio, is five years into his pay progression as a production operator. He told his co-workers he still can't believe they are out on the picket line.
He referenced the years-long federal corruption probe that resulted in three FCA US LLC executives and more than a dozen UAW officials being convicted, including two former presidents.
"There's been a lot of corruption between the company and the union," Woodworth said. "After so long, you kind of give up."
Now, with the company reporting record global profits, he said, "It's time to pay up. We didn't have anybody willing to make that step. Now we have a new Big Shawn in Detroit."
Later, a picketer was overheard saying, "#FeeltheFain." One truck drove past the strike line, repeating the message, "No justice, no Jeep!"
The walkouts involving 12,900 workers mark the first time in the union's more than 80-year history that it has struck all three Detroit automakers at once.
Moments after the strike started at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant, union President Shawn Fain arrived at the UAW Local 900 hall to much fanfare. Thousands of UAW members and journalists swarmed the union leader, who answered questions before leading the crowd on a short march across Michigan Avenue to stand directly in front of Michigan Assembly Plant.
"This union is making history," he said. "This is our time."
Fain said he expected to be back at the bargaining table with the automakers on Saturday. He's scheduled to appear at a rally Friday afternoon in downtown Detroit with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
The plants struck by the union produce popular midsize trucks, off-roading SUVs and commercial vans. Workers in the final assembly and paint shop only walked out at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant. It makes the Ranger midsize pickup and the Bronco off-roading SUV and employs about 4,600 hourly workers, according to Ford's website. Local 900 in Region 1A represents those members.
Outside the Toledo Assembly Complex, local political leaders and fellow autoworkers clapped and cheered, yelling "Here we go!" as the first UAW members walked and drove out of the plant along I-75 shortly after midnight.
It was bittersweet taking those steps, said Joyce Jones, 51, of Toledo, a 10-year UAW member who works in quality inspection.
"It was sad, but it'll be worth it," she said while holding a strike sign in front of a gate off Stickney Avenue. "It's shameful the CEOs are not willing to give their workers what we deserve. We have TPTs (temporary part-time or supplemental workers) who have been part-time for five or six years. They need to be rolled over."
Jacquel McNeal, 30, of Toledo is one such supplemental worker. January would mark three years for her. She is paid $17.53 an hour, and as a single mother, supports four children ages ranging 7 to 13.
"I do what I can," McNeal said. "It's all on my way. (The recent increase in consumer items) has been a lot."
As vehicles honked while passing the picketers and even blasted music, autoworkers hooted and jumped up and down.
The energy was exciting, McNeal said, adding: "I want better."
Automakers, officials react
GM and Stellantis expressed disappointment in the UAW's decision to launch the strikes in statements early Friday.
“The UAW has informed GM that they are on strike at Wentzville Assembly in Missouri as of 11:59 PM," spokesperson David Barnas said. "We are disappointed by the UAW leadership's actions, despite the unprecedented economic package GM put on the table, including historic wage increases and manufacturing commitments. We will continue to bargain in good faith with the union to reach an agreement as quickly as possible for the benefit of our team members, customers, suppliers and communities across the U.S. In the meantime, our priority is the safety of our workforce.”
"We are extremely disappointed by the UAW leadership's refusal to engage in a responsible manner to reach a fair agreement in the best interest of our employees, their families and our customers," Stellantis spokesperson Jodi Tinson said. "We immediately put the Company in contingency mode and will take all the appropriate structural decisions to protect our North American operations and the Company."
In a statement from Ford spokesperson Jessica Enoch just after 10 p.m. Thursday, the company confirmed it had received "its first substantive counterproposal" from the UAW around 8 p.m. The company said the counter offer "showed little movement from the union's initial demands submitted Aug. 3."
"If implemented, the proposal would more than double Ford’s current UAW-related labor costs, which are already significantly higher than the labor costs of Tesla, Toyota and other foreign-owned automakers in the United States that utilize non-union-represented labor," the statement said. "Ford has bargained in good faith in an effort to avoid a strike, which could have wide-ranging consequences for our business and the economy."
Sandy Baruah, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, expressed concern about the impact of the union's action in a statement early Friday: "The strike by the UAW not only impacts Michigan’s signature industry, it disproportionately impacts Michigan residents, especially those in the middle class. Every OEM auto job impacts between seven to 10 other jobs, which are all at risk as the strike shuts down the industry."
Michigan political leaders also weighed in, with Democratic lawmakers expressing support for the UAW's action in pursuit of its bargaining goals. U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell of Ann Arbor and Rashida Tlaib of Detroit joined picketing workers early Friday outside the Ford plant in Wayne.
“I stand in solidarity with UAW workers as they strike to fight for a contract that gives them the wages, job security, and benefits they deserve," U.S. Sen. Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township said in a statement. "UAW members made huge sacrifices to help save the auto industry in 2008 and now that the Big Three are making historic profits, the workers deserve to get their fair share of the success."
The picket line was a family affair for some.
Adelisa Lebron of Detroit, a Local 900 worker who works at Michigan Assembly on the engine line, was there with her teenage daughter, sister-in-law and mother. Lebron said that even after three years working there, she does not earn enough to support her family.
"Being a single mom with three kids with what I’m making right now, it’s not cutting it," she said.
Her mother, Marilyn Lebron, works at Ford's Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn. She's worked at Ford for 21 years and said she wants the same conditions she once enjoyed for her children and grandchildren.
"She’s a single mom. She’s raising three children. She should be at full pay," Marilyn Lebron said of her daughter. “We had COLA. We had everything. And I want her and my grandchildren to have those things."
Another family member, Alexandria Cosme-Reyna, works at REVC and said she struggles to support her six children on her wages: “I live paycheck to paycheck.”
The other two plants affected by the strike produce popular, profitable products too.
GM's Wentzville Assembly outside of St. Louis produces the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize trucks and the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans. It employs 4,114 hourly and salaried workers, according to GM's website. Local 2250 in Region 4 represents those workers.
Stellantis’ Toledo Assembly Complex is home to its flagship Jeep Wrangler and its Gladiator midsize pickup brother — whose ’24 refreshed model was revealed at the Detroit auto show on Wednesday. Toledo employs 4,174 hourly workers, according to Stellantis’ website. Local 12 in Region 2B represents those employees.
Alicia Alonzo, 62, of Toledo, works first shift as a quality inspector at the Stellantis plant and isn't scheduled to picket until Sunday, but she had to be outside the plant at midnight.
"I'm happy about it," the nearly 30-year autoworker said of the strike. "I don't think we're asking for much: a little raise, for TPTs to be rolled over, some benefits for retirees. They put a lot of years into the plant. Some as many as 50 years.
"Autoworkers work very, very hard. Their people don't have to work on those concrete floors. Your back and knees hurt. When it's 100 degrees outside, it's 120 in there."
Among those greeting the strikers were Ohio state Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson, D-Toledo; Lucas County Commissioner Lisa Sobecki; Mike Pniewski, Lucas County engineer; and state Rep. Elgin Rogers, D-Toledo.
"It's deficient, because they stood up, they bailed them out, and they worked through COVID," Sobecki said. "And they're still not fairly paid."
"Some of them have been TPTs for five years," added Rogers. "That ain't right."
Freeman Woodworth, 40, of Perrysburg, Ohio, is five years into his pay progression as a production operator. He told his co-workers he still can't believe they are out on the picket line.
He referenced the years-long federal corruption probe that resulted in three FCA US LLC executives and more than a dozen UAW officials being convicted, including two former presidents.
"There's been a lot of corruption between the company and the union," Woodworth said. "After so long, you kind of give up."
Now, with the company reporting record global profits, he said, "It's time to pay up. We didn't have anybody willing to make that step. Now we have a new Big Shawn in Detroit."
Later, a picketer was overheard saying, "#FeeltheFain." One truck drove past the strike line, repeating the message, "No justice, no Jeep!"