The United Auto Workers is expanding its historic Stand Up Strike against the Detroit Three automakers.
On Friday, UAW President Shawn Fain announced strikes against all parts and distribution facilities at General Motors and Stellantis — including 38 facilities across 20 states.
All workers at those facility are instructed to walk out at noon.
For GM, this includes Pontiac, Willow Run, Ypsilanti, Davison Road, Flint, Lansing, Cincinnati, Denver, Hudson, Chicago, Reno, Rancho Cucamonga, Fort Worth, Martinsburg, Jackson, Charlotte, Memphis and Philadelphia.
For Stellantis, the locations are Marysville, Centerline Packaging, Centerline Warehouse, Sherwood, Warren Parts, Quality Engineering Center, Romulus, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland, Atlanta, Winchester, Orlando, Dallas, New York and Boston.
Fain also confirmed that those plants already on strike will stay on strike.
He said the union has a "clear strategy to win."
"The public is on our side," Fain said, adding: "We can, and will go all out if we need to."
Fain said there has been some movement in talks with automakers; particularly at Ford Motor Co., including on issues including pay, cost of living, profit sharing, job security and the right to strike over plant closures.
Fain said it appears that Ford is "serious about making a deal," while it's a different story at Stellantis and GM, which have rejected several of the UAW's proposals.
"And we will keep going, and keep organizing, and keep expanding the Stand Up Strike as necessary," Fain said. "Across the county, people are gonna know that the UAW is ready to stand up for our communities, and ready to stand up against corporate greed."
So, why target parts facilities and not more plants? WWJ Auto Analyst John McElroy said it's part of a carefully thought out strategy.
"I think most analysts expected the UAW to go after the full-size pickup or the SUV plant, where they make most of their profits," McElroy said. "But it's a way of Shawn Fain being able to ratchet up the pressure on Stellantis and General Motors without really financially crippling them."
"He wants to, it would seem from the strategy, just continue to make the pain greater without really trying to kill the companies financially."
McElroy said, however, this latest move by the UAW will directly affect the consumer.
"Because these are plants, parts plants, that typically bring spare parts to dealerships," he explained. "And, you know, once you run out of spare parts, people are not going to be able to get their cars fixed. And that's going to be a pretty serious situation from a customer standpoint. They're going to be very unhappy that they can't get their cars repaired or serviced."
If the strike does continue, McElroy said it's not overstating to say that it will be crippling for the Big Three and the nation's automotive industry.
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