DETROIT (WWJ) -- With six days until contract expiration between the United Auto Workers (UAW) and automakers, UAW President Shawn Fain calls the latest offers "deeply inadequate."
Fain took to Facebook Live Friday evening from UAW Solidarity House in Detroit, saying new contract counterproposals from the Detroit automakers aren't nearly good enough. He went as far as to call them "disgusting" and "corporate greed."
"The 'Big Three' have profited a quarter-of-a-trillion-dollars in North America in the last decade," Fain said, offering his blunt assessment of the "Big Three" management.
"Their CEOs have made hundreds-of-millions of dollars personally. They've been the leading edge of corporate greed. They weaken our unions and they break the law if they have to. These companies offer what they think we're going to accept. When we build our collective power, together, we can change that equation."
The UAW wants some 46% pay raises.
Ford and General Motors offered a 10% increase over four years and bonuses.
Stellantis came up with a 14.5% increase over the four-year contract and other compensation.
The deadline for contract negotiations is Thursday, September 14 just before midnight.
Fain said the UAW will not move next week's deadline.
"If we hit 11:59 p.m. on Thursday without a deal at any of the 'Big Three' automakers, there WILL be a strike. At all three if need be," Fain said via Facebook.
"I've got two words for every 'Big Three' worker out there listening: STAND UP. Be ready to stand up against corporate greed, against management's lies, against distortions in the media. Stand up for what's right. Stand up for what you believe in."
The union is also calling for an end to tiered wages.
Fain called the "Big Three" "the leading edge of corporate greed."
"We propose significant double-digit pay increases of 40% to match the salary increases of the 'Big Three' CEOs and to make up for DECADES of falling real wages in this industry. Ford has proposed a 10% raise over four years. GM proposed the same. Stellantis offered 14-and-a-half percent over four years. I want to be clear -- this is movement, but I want to be clear about something else, too -- a 14-and-a-half percent increase over four years is DEEPLY inadequate."
New information about the UAW contract talks with Stellantis came out Friday afternoon prior to President Fain giving his perspective via social media.
Stellantis offered its first economic proposal to the union Friday.
As stated above, the deal calls for a 14.5% increase over four years. This also comes with a one-time inflation protection payment of $6,000 in the first year of the contract and another $4,500 over the final three years.
Stellantis proposed supplemental workers would see their pay go up $4.22 an hour to $20 an hour. Stellantis is offering to shorten the time it takes a worker to get to the full pay scale.
The proposal also sets Juneteenth as a paid holiday.
In a letter, Stellantis's CEO Carlos Tavares said there has been tremendous progress on hundreds of issues at the subcommittee level and he's proud of the work his team has accomplished.
Local leadership from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties met Friday as part of the annual "Tri-County Summit" and speaking to WWJ's Jon Hewett, expressed concern over economic damage an extended work stoppage could bring to our region if autoworkers go on strike.
Oakland County Commission Chairman Dave Woodward said he is hopeful by some of the more recent news that a walkout could be averted. He called a strike a "lose, lose" for everybody.
"I understand the UAW, they want their fair share and we want them to have their fair share," said Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell.
"But they've both got to come to some compromise because this could be catastrophic for our region if it goes longer than a few days."
Macomb County Board Chair Don Brown told Jon Hewett that we need everybody working. Brown said he hopes both parties can come to an agreement for the good of the employees and the companies because we cannot sustain a long strike in our region.
WWJ is following closely to contract talks between the UAW and Ford, GM and Stellantis. Stay tuned for the latest coverage ahead of Thursday's contract deadline.
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