UAW reached a tentative agreement with Mack Trucks, while strikes against Stellantis and General Motors continue.
United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), the automotive industry union in the United States, reached a first tentative agreement amidst the ongoing strike. 17,000 UAW workers have joined the picket lines to demand better working conditions and wages.
Summer was hot for unions in America, with Hollywood writers and actors going on strike as well. Last week, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) also reached a tentative agreement with Hollywood producers, satisfying almost all of their demands.
The UAW strike, however, is much more recent and its outcome is still uncertain. On Monday, a first tentative agreement was reached with Volvo Group-owned Mack Trucks, though the strike against Stellantis and General Motors continues.
“The terms of this tentative agreement,” said Mack Trucks President Stephen Roy, “would deliver significantly increased wages and continue first-class benefits for Mack employees and their families.”
Mack Trucks employs around 4,000 workers, freeing up crucial UAW funds to continue the other strikes.
What is the UAW fighting for
UAW workers have gone on strike on September 15th, demanding higher wages and better working contracts. They also demand contractual protection for the transition to electric vehicle production, which has gained traction in recent years.
The UAW contract with Stellantis and General Motors expired this year, and workers now demand a 46% wage increase. Higher costs of living, especially for rents and home ownership, were claimed by UAW as the cause for these demands.
“Workers feel, in a nutshell: ‘We work hard. We’re moving backward while corporate profits are galloping upwards, and we’re not getting our fair share,’” said Steven Greenhouse, a senior member of The Century Foundation.
Has the UAW endorsed Biden
UAW, like many other unions, is a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. This support is mutual, as confirmed by President Joe Biden’s visit to the picket line last Tuesday.
Joe Biden claimed that UAW saved the automotive industry during the 2008 financial crisis, and they deserve the 46% pay raise they demand.
The White House claimed that Joe Biden was the first president to join a strike. He did so ahead of former president Donald Trump’s visit to Detroit. Trump is the main Republican candidate for the 2024 election, and he will likely challenge Joe Biden.
Under Joe Biden’s tenure, unemployment in the United States reached an all-time low. The Democratic Party will claim this as a significant victory, showing how workers are high on Biden’s priority list.
