(WBEN) - Western New York auto workers will continue to work without a contract, for now, after they were not included in the latest round of UAW workers to hit the picket lines on strike.
UAW President Shawn Fain announced via Facebook Live an additional 7,000 auto workers will go on strike as of 12 p.m. ET on Friday at two plants: Ford's Chicago assembly plant and GM's Lansing Delta Township assembly plant in Michigan.
"Over the last week, the Vice Presidents, and your national negotiators in my office have been working night and day to bargain a record contract that reflects the record profits we have produced for the Big Three. Sadly, despite our willingness to bargain, Ford and GM have refused to make meaningful progress at the table," said President Fain on Friday. "To be clear, negotiations haven't broke down. We're still talking with all three companies, and I'm still very hopeful we can reach a deal that reflects the incredible sacrifices and contributions our members have made over the last decade. But I also know what we win at the bargaining table depends on the power we build on the job. It's time to use that power."
Locally, workers at the Ford Stamping Plant in Buffalo, as well as the two GM locations in Tonawanda and Lockport continue to remain at the ready for when the call to strike goes out for them.
"It sounds like Ford and GM are not taking our demands seriously. It sounds like they've made some progress with Stellantis, thus, no more plants are being pulled out," said Ray Jensen, Region 9 Assistant Director for the UAW. "Again, our members in the Buffalo area are just waiting for that call, and they're ready, willing and able to stand up when the time comes."
While auto workers in Western New York continue to work on an expired contract, Jensen's message for union members in the region is to continue to support one another.
"They've just got to make sure we're doing the right things, and our local leadership has done a great job at informing our membership on what to do and what not to do, as well as the President's office. We're just continuing to work, do our jobs, and we're just waiting for that call," Jensen said.
While negotiations with Ford and GM have not made meaningful progress, Fain says there is optimism when it comes to contract negotiations with Stellantis.
"We are not calling on any additional members at Stellantis to go on strike," Fain said. "Moments before this broadcast, Stellantis made significant progress on the 2009 cost of living allowance, the right not to cross a picket line, as well as the right to strike over product commitments and plant closures and outsourcing moratoriums. We are excited about this momentum at Stellantis and hope it continues. Until then, we will keep building our arsenal of democracy, and we will win. Our strategy is working."
Although progress has not come yet for negotiations with Ford and GM, Jensen says it's not something that's disheartening for local workers.
"I just think that these companies are so in tune with their own corporate greed and their own billionaire class they're not taking the demands of the membership seriously," he said. "We do have a Stellantis parts distribution center, but it's in Tappan, New York just North of the Bronx. And we also have a GM facility in Rochester, New York. What happens next just depends on the proposals they hand over to us, and if they give our members a fair share or not."
With the 7,000 additional auto workers hitting the picket lines at 12 p.m. ET on Friday, they will join the 18,000 UAW members on already strike across the nation.