DEARBORN (WWJ) – As UAW members held a so-called “practice picket” outside of the Ford Rouge Plant in Dearborn on Wednesday afternoon, President Shawn Fain laid out plans for how the union plans to strike.
The 11:59 p.m. Thursday deadline for a new contract between the UAW and the “Big 3” automakers – Ford, GM and Stellantis – is quickly approaching and Fain says if a deal can’t be struck before then, the union will conduct what he calls a “stand up strike” against all three companies, which would be “a historic first.”
“The stand up strike begins with all of our locals – from parts distribution centers to assembly plants – maintaining a constant strike readiness,” Fain said Wednesday in a Facebook livestream.
Noting it’s “really important that we’re clear on this point,” Fain told members the union will not strike all facilities at the same time. The UAW will initially target a limited number of locations to strike, according to Fain.
It was not immediately clear which or how many facilities that includes.
“Then based on what’s happening in bargaining, we’re gonna announce more locals that are gonna be called to stand up and strike,” Fain said.
As the president laid out plans for the potential strike, members outside the Rouge Plant were doing their part to get ready.
WWJ’s Jon Hewett reports there were about 80 workers taking part in the dry run. Among the top issues being disputed between the union are significant pay raises and an end to the two-tier wage system.
Monty Wall, a bargaining representative with Local 600 at the Rouge, told Hewett the union is looking to get back concessions that were made in 2007 when the companies were looking for stability as the recession hit.
“The company has been profitable for many years since then and it’s now time to show the people who build these cars and trucks that we see what you’re doing out there on the floor and we want it to reflect in a fair contract,” he said.