Statement from UAW President Ray Curry on the Holidays

On behalf of the entire UAW International Executive Board, I send you best wishes for the Holiday Season and a Prosperous New Year.  This has been a very busy year for our union.  Our members led the largest strike in the history of higher education.  We held the line during the mid-terms and built a labor-supportive majority in the Senate.  We had our first direct election of UAW officers which will continue with a run-off next year (ballots start to be mailed January 12).  We’ve organized thousands of new members and bargained multiple contracts – including first contracts.

While there was a lot of good news for our union, this was also the year when our members from CNHi (UAW Locals 180 and 807) went on strike for a fair contract on May 2.  Bargainers are working to bring home an agreement our members will support while they face a heartless company who puts profits above people and the quality work they perform.  This is also the year Stellantis made its outrageous announcement to idle it’s Belvidere plant. Our members from Locals 1268 and 1761 deserve a new product in the plant, something that Stellantis could easily do.  It’s especially insulting as the company gladly takes taxpayer subsidies without giving back to communities.  The fights with CNHi and Stellantis are far from over as we continue to fight.  But we ask all of our UAW family to keep them in your thoughts this season.  Region 4 continues to coordinate collections for CNHi members so please check out their Facebook page for more information.

Please be safe this holiday season.  For our members celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or just the festive season, we wish you peace and health. And we look forward to building solidarity with you in 2023!

In Solidarity,

Ray Curry