STREETSBORO, Ohio — United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain gave an update on contract negotiations with the Big Three Detroit automakers Friday.
"Right before a deal is when there is the most aggressive push for that last mile," Fain said.
He threatened to add more walkouts, but didn't pull the trigger, telling members to be ready for the call. He says all three companies have agreed to a 23% wage increase over 4 1/2 years while eliminating some wage tiers, among other offers.
Workers at the Streetsboro Stellantis plant have been on the picket line for four weeks now, called on a week after the initial UAW walkouts.
"We've been doing everything we can to keep our morale up," Jose Torres, UAW Local 573 strike captain, told 3News.
For Torres, the update gave some hope as he and his union mates try to keep their spirits high. However, he believes there's still more to be done for the companies to show they value their employees.
"There's nothing wrong with wanting to make a few million, but I mean, know where that million is coming from," Torres explained.
In particular, Fain slammed Ford during his update Friday.
"Ford Motor E Company said they were going to give an additionally $600 million in shareholder dividends this year," he claimed. "That amount of money alone would amount to about a dollar an hour raise for all Ford workers for the entire life of this next contract."
"They want to invest money in Wall Street, they want to outsource our jobs instead of investing that money where they’re real assets are: into their employees, into the communities that they have factories in," Torres concurred.
Nearly 400 workers have been laid off for two weeks at the Ford Cleveland Engine Plant in Brook Park. UAW Local 1250 spokesperson Pat Wallace says anxiety is high among members.
"They got that kind of money to give all their shareholders, right?" Wallace noted. "You should be taking care of the working class people of America also."
Wallace and other members are frustrated, just like the international bargaining team, following comments from Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford earlier in the week. The great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford called on autoworkers to come together and end the strike while also threatening to close Ford's Rouge truck complex in Dearborn, Michigan, if that does not happen.
"It's sort of like threatening us. Like, 'We better settle down before we start closing plants because we can't afford it,'" Wallace said. "But they just paid 15 cents per share out for shareholders that’s payable out in December. As President Fain said, it's obvious they got money."
With the holidays right around the corner and no real end in sight for the strike, workers say they are focusing on the fight.
"We understand it's going to be tight now," Torres admitted, "but it's worth it for what we're fighting for for the future."
