The United Auto Workers union representing about 13,000 employees at Ford, Stellantis and GM is getting set to expand its strike against the Big Three automakers with plans to walk off the job at more GM and Ford plants.
The strike will extend to GM’s Lansing, Michigan plant as well as Ford’s Chicago, Illinois assembly facility, covering roughly 7,000 additional employees, according to Reuters. UAW President Shawn Fain said the expanded strike actions will bring the total number of picketers up to 25,000 people.
According to a source, talks between the Big Three automakers and the UAW were “very active” September 28. Fain said that the union is demanding a 40% pay increase over a four-year contract, but the companies most recently countered with a 20% wage hike.
“Despite our willingness to bargain, Ford and GM have refused to make meaningful progress,” Fain said in a September 29 video address.
Though the UAW declined to comment on the matter, sources close to the situation said that the strike plans are fluid and could change at any time.
The UAW announced plans to expand strike actions against GM and Stellantis during the week of September 22 but decided to limit its walkout of Ford because the two sides had made some meaningful progress during contract negotiations.
The UAW began striking against Ford, GM and Stellantis at plants in Missouri, Michigan and Ohio September 15. The UAW strikes began at General Motors’ Wentzville, Missouri venue, where 3,600 UAW members are employed. Later, 3,300 workers walked out of Ford’s Wayne, Michigan plant as well as Stellantis’ Toledo, Ohio assembly complex, which employs about 5,800 UAW members.
