Lockport, N.Y. (WBEN) - 47 Lockport United Auto Workers (UAW) who were temporarily laid off last month due to the ongoing nationwide strike are now utilizing their time by giving back to the community.
Part of the Local UAW 686, the General Motors plant workers who were temporarily laid off as a result of UAW's nationwide strike against Ford, General Motors and Stellantis are now turning their unfortunate situation into a positive one, by giving back to the Lockport community by volunteering their time to A Hand Up, Inc., a non-for-profit organization that helps the community in a variety of ways, most notably through their regular peanut butter and jelly drives to feed the homeless and those in need.
"They've had some issues where they had flooding a couple years ago in their basement where they stored everything," said Michael DeLucas, President of UAW Local 686. "And we came in and gave him a hand and cleaned up everything, washed everything that needs to be washed and sorted through stuff. And [we're] trying to help them out because they've helped us out. It's full circle. So everything that's coming around, we've given as they've given back to us. It's about giving back to the community you take from."
The 47 GM plant workers who were temporarily laid off are also aiding in cleaning up the Lockport streets as well, such as picking up the trash.
All the workers of the GM plant on Upper Mountain Road itself have not been called to strike by the international UAW leaders. However, some were temporarily let go because they made front and rear HVAC units for a van made at a plant in Missouri, a plant that been striking since the walkout announcement on Sept. 15. Until that one plant goes back online, those Lockport workers will not come back.
According to GM’s Negotiations 2023 website, more than 2,100 employees have been laid off at plants across the country.
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DeLucas says morale is high, they have been prepared to strike for over three months now. For the time being, all members part of the UAW Local 686 will be giving at least one day for community service. Those laid off workers are receiving strike pay of $500 a week.
They will also continue to support those workers who are still on strike by continuing practice pickets and solidarity rallies.
"In between doing our picket duties, we will be still out in the community, making our presence known that we're out there, and we're going to support the community and we're going to ask them to support us," said DeLucas.
"We did a solidarity rally at our hall a couple of weeks back, and we've done a practice picket which was across the street on upper mountain road right across the street from the plant, so we're going to continue doing that stuff. And we're gonna show our brothers and sisters that are out on strike that we are supporting them. So they're gonna keep fighting."
DeLucas says he predicts negotiations could go on for another couple months, and has prepared his fellow union workers accordingly.