UAW President Shawn Fain announced a new strike date for the Big Three automakers, giving them a harsh ultimatum in a recorded message posted to Facebook.
The new deadline will be Friday, September 22 at noon. If Ford Motor Company, General Motors or Stellantis do not make substantial progress toward a fair deal, the UAW said it will call on more members to join what they call the “position.” up » strike.
Across the border, Unifor, which represents Ford auto workers in Canada, says that if its demands for wages and pensions are not met by midnight Tuesday (September 19), all Ford Unifor workers will walk out.
This follows a weekend of constant discussions. The UAW called its discussions with Ford reasonably productive, but offered no criticism of the discussions with Stellantis and General Motors, saying only that there had been discussions.
Currently, the only UAW picket plant in Michigan is Ford’s Michigan Assembly in Wayne.
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“We have been available 24/7 to negotiate an agreement that recognizes the sacrifices and contributions of our members to these record profits. Yet the Big Three failed to get to work.
That’s why, last week, our courageous union family in the Wentzville Assembly, the Toledo Assembly, and the Michigan Assembly Final Assembly and Painting Departments were called upon to stand up and to strike. And that’s exactly what they did.
Just as importantly, you all stayed on the job. This is the only way this strategy works. We’re going to continue to hit the business where we need it, when we need it. And we’re not going to wait forever while they drag this out.
I have been clear with the Big Three every step of the way. And I’m going to be very clear again now. If we do not make serious progress by noon on Friday, September 22, more locals will be called upon to stand up and join the strike. It will have been over a week since our first members left. And it will mark more than a week in which the Big Three have failed to make progress in negotiations to reach an agreement that would satisfy our members.
Autoworkers have waited long enough to make things right within the Big Three. We don’t wait and we don’t joke. Friday September 22 at noon is therefore a new deadline.
Either the Big Three get to work and work with us to move the negotiations forward, or more locals will be called upon to stand up and strike.
Until then, UAW members will continue to organize actions. The strikers will remain on strike. And those in office will continue to monitor unilateral changes made by management, which are NOT allowed under an expired contract.
Continue to hold rallies. Keep having red shirt days. Keep your energy up and continue to show businesses that you are willing to join the strike if necessary.
This is the defining moment of our generation.
So be ready to get up.
Shawn Fain, UAW President
Read: How UAW Strikes Could Impact Metro Detroit Parts Suppliers
More: Biden aides participating in UAW-Big Three talks to arrive in Detroit early this week
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