Statement from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler on UAW members going on strike at Ford, General Motors (GM) and Stellantis:
When members of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) went on strike at midnight, they sent a clear, unequivocal message to the country and the world that when working people stand together, united by justice and dignity, we have the collective power to demand the respect and fairness on the job we deserve.
Our message to the UAW members who are bravely striking to strengthen America for all of us is simple: We’ve got your backs and will stand with you however long it takes to win a fair contract that recognizes your value.
Every day, autoworkers give their hearts and souls to these companies, working to earn Ford, GM and Stellantis exorbitant profits reaching a quarter of a trillion dollars over the past decade. Instead of rewarding workers’ commitment and sacrifice, the Big Three pay CEOs tens of millions while refusing to acknowledge the working people who are the backbone of these companies. Workers are striking for what we all deserve: fair pay, safety and security on the job; a clean energy future with good union jobs; and dignity in retirement.
This fight isn’t just about autoworkers and their families, this is about creating a future where everyone can prosper. Gone are the days of corporations running roughshod over workers with impunity. We’re fed up and ready to do whatever is necessary to ensure companies give us the basic respect on the job we deserve, not just in the auto industry, but in every industry.
And the public is firmly in our corner. Seventy-five percent of Americans support autoworkers in this fight. That’s because working people realize the only way we can get ahead in an economy that’s been rigged against us for decades is through the solidarity and unity a union provides.
