U.S: historic victory for auto workers.
TAfter a series of strikes against the big three in the sector (Ford, General Motors y Stellantis), The American automobile workers union UAW approved the new collective agreements, achieving a first great victory after decades of diluted confrontations: 146.000 Unionized workers will raise wages with raises and cost-of-living adjustments, among other benefits. A historic mobilization that laid the foundations of the workers' struggle.
ByCarolina Menendez Trucco
It's worth going on strike. After nine weeks of protest, members of the United Auto Workers union (UAW) have given their backing to new contracts with the big three American automakers, agreements that generate steep salary increases and other benefits eluded for more than 20 years. General Motors, Ford and Stellantis finally ratified the collective agreement that ended the strike. In the closest vote, GM obtained the support of 55% of almost 36.000 members who voted. In the case of Ford, the tracking spreadsheet returned a majority (68,2 % ratified the agreement of the 34.657 voters) and in Stellantis voted in favor of the agreement a 68,4% from 26.289 people. The agreements signed by the three companies have had a widespread effect on other automobile companies in the United States.. The mobilization that began at midnight on Thursday 14 September not only involved “a key stroke” for the sector, It also expanded the reach to the rest of the working class.
“We have fought for concessions that no one would have thought possible”, said the head of the UAW, Shawn Fain, on the preliminary agreement of the new collective agreement. Although the original demand had been an increase in 40% (the same amount that employers' salaries increased in recent years) and the most senior employees did not make as many improvements as the new ones, The agreements reached imply increases of more than 30% of salaries in four and a half years, along with other improvements in working conditions, employment guarantees and new rights. The union leader had to appeal to combative arguments: by wielding the record profits of the companies and the multimillion-dollar salaries of their managers, Fain supported the reason for the strikes, validating the wage fight.
All the wheels are still...
The production lines had stopped since September 14 at midnight. For the first time in its history, The traditional automobile union was simultaneously waging a labor dispute against the three main companies in the sector in the United States.: General Motors (GM), Ford y Stellantis, antes Chrysler. A week after the protest began, the union extended the strike from three to 38 plants.
As negotiations progressed, the demand became louder: despite fears that a prolonged strike would “affect the economy”, Workers continued to fight for better wages at a time when auto companies were reporting higher profits.“Without an agreement there are no wheels!”, workers chanted when the country's current president arrived at a General Motors spare parts distribution warehouse.
An unexpected visit
The moment Biden joined the automaker strike: “Wall Street did not build this country.”, The middle class did it and the unions built the middle class.”. Quite far from being able to earn the position of reliable companion or partner for the working class, Joe Biden is the first US president. who joins striking workers in person. with a megaphone, a union cap and in sportswear, the leader of the Democratic Party addressed the strikers: “You saved the automotive industry. They made a lot of sacrifices. Companies were in trouble. Now they are doing incredibly well and, know that, “It should happen to you too”, he said to applause. Recognizing in turn that“They have earned much more than what they are being paid”, Thus, They deserved a salary increase 40%.
Even if Fain has not endorsed Biden so far, has praised his appearance at the UAW demonstration in Michigan and it would not be wrong to expect some response from the sector. On several occasions, The president has claimed that auto companies have not done enough to meet union demands, especially after making concessions after the financial crisis of 2008. Biden's unprecedented gesture is due not only to the strength of the strike, but also to his need to seek the support of unions for next year's presidential elections.
A historic triumph
Although there are variations between the different agreements, In all of them the increase is 25% in hourly compensation until April 2028, and that with some adjustments for the cost of living it will be more than a 30%. The agreements also include improvements in pensions, the end of segmentation (shorten the period of application of the double salary scale), the incorporation of temporary workers as full-time workers, a work week of 32 hours with a salary of 40 hours and the right to strike if a plant closes.
The salary improvements of this agreement are greater than those accumulated in recent years. 22 years. There is also an adjustment for inflation, which had been abolished after the crash of 2008. Its reinstatement is one of the many achievements that the sector was able to gain. The UAW strike has undoubtedly been the most important in decades. The proposed agreements mark a record for the union, who was much more combative and strategic during the negotiations than in recent history. The win was a big step forward in the quest to build a broader, bolder labor movement.. With everything, The mobilization takes place in a context of energy transition that poses a crossroads for the working class. The move towards electric vehicles brings nothing but new confrontations: Although the UAW union will now seek to include workers from non-union factories, like those of Tesla and foreign companies, low-wage, non-union plants will be a challenge. In the main imperialist power of the world, where struggles for decent wages grow, for better working conditions and the right to join unions, The triumph of the automakers strengthens the entire working class.
