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Statement of UAW on Idling of Stellantis Belvidere Plant on February 28

Last December, Stellantis NV announced its decision to idle the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois on February 28, 2023, by refusing to put a new product into the award-winning plant.

“UAW Local 1268 members at Belvidere have proudly built vehicles for Chrysler, then FCA and now Stellantis since 1965. They have delivered quality and productivity for the corporation for generations,” says UAW President Ray Curry. “Stellantis’ ill-advised decision will have negative repercussions throughout the region and supplier network.  It will disrupt lives, uproot families, and leave communities struggling to find economic drivers to pay for schools, roads and other services.”

“It is notable that while Stellantis abandons this community after being part of it for almost sixty years, the corporation has benefitted from numerous and generous subsidies, federal loans, grants and tax abatements – all paid for by U.S. taxpayers,” adds UAW Region 4 Director Brandon Campbell. “The cruelty of its decision was heightened last week when the company disclosed that CEO Carlos Tavares received a staggering compensation package of $24.8 million for 2022, despite the company’s shareholders questioning the excessive compensation given to Tavares in 2021.  All of this done by a global company which looks to the U.S. market for 48% of its revenue.”

Stellantis’ decision to idle the Belvidere Assembly Plant will not stand.

“We have immediately addressed the concerns of the 2300 affected employees by negotiating with the company on retirement packages, voluntary termination, as well as pre-retirement leaves to allow employees to grow into their retirement.  We are also working with interested members on the relocation process,” notes UAW Vice President and Director of the National Stellantis Department Rich Boyer.  “While the power of collective bargaining softens the blow for UAW Local 1268 members who work for Stellantis, we know that the options are much more limited for the supplier network which includes UAW members as well as the community at large. This economic dislocation is a choice made by Stellantis to reap even higher profits. We will highlight their corporate greed to workers, community, taxpayers, and consumers.”

The UAW will continue to demand that Stellantis put a product in the Belvidere Assembly Plant. This pattern of starving facilities of a product creates uncertainty for UAW members and raises questions about Stellantis’ commitment to the U.S.

UAW workers deserve better.  U.S. taxpayers who subsidize Stellantis deserve better. And U.S. consumers deserve better.

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Statement from UAW Vice President and Director of National Stellantis Department Rich Boyer on 2022 Profit Sharing Announcement

Detroit – Our union was successful in negotiating an enhanced profit-sharing formula with Stellantis in 2019.  The new formula more accurately reflects the contributions of UAW members to the success of Stellantis. Today’s announcement that eligible UAW-Stellantis members will receive a record average profit-sharing amount of $14,760 confirms that the skill, dedication, and hard work of UAW members are a critical part of the success of Mopar, Chrysler, Jeep, RAM, Wagoneer and Dodge.

The financial strength of Stellantis primarily relies on the company’s UAW workforce as evidenced by its financial report. Our members are the backbone of this company. We will continue to call on Stellantis to show our members the respect that is due to them by demanding that they provide a safe working environment to all employees and job security by investing in America.

While we recognize that this profit sharing amount is rightly deserved, we also know that there is much work to be done.  Our members at Belvidere (Local 1268) contributed to this profit sharing, yet the company has idled their plant.  That decision will not stand, and we will fight to reverse it with UAW members, the Belvidere community, the state of Illinois, taxpayers, consumers and all who stand against corporate greed.

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UAW Statement on Increasing Strike Pay to $500 Per Week

Today, the UAW International Executive Board unanimously approved increasing strike pay from $400 to $500 per week.  This increase reflects the effects of continuing inflation as well as the need for our union to prepare for an important bargaining year affecting multiple sectors and employers.

“This increase will immediately help members who are on strike,” says UAW President Ray Curry.  “Increasing the strike pay gives notice to employers that we have high expectations as we head into bargaining, and that the UAW is united in fighting for economic justice for all members.”

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USC GRAD WORKERS WIN THEIR UNION, JOIN UAW

Successful vote is latest victory in growing grad worker union movement

Los Angeles, CA – By a 93% margin, graduate workers at the University of Southern California have voted 1,599 to 122 in favor of joining the Graduate Student Workers Organizing Committee-United Auto Workers (GSWOC-UAW), according to ballots tallied today by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The victory caps a multi-year effort, with workers standing strong against USC administrators’ anti-union campaign. GSWOC-UAW will represent 3,000 Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants and Assistant Lecturers at USC.

“We are so energized by this resounding vote in favor of our union,” said Stepp Mayes, a Graduate Student Worker in Civil and Environmental Engineering. “The support for our union keeps growing stronger, and we will be bringing this solidarity and energy to the bargaining table. We are confident that our union will be good for us and good for USC, and we look forward to meeting them at the table soon to bargain a contract that makes us all stronger.”

“The status quo has not been serving Graduate Student Workers, and we are thrilled to have won our union and an equal voice in determining our working conditions,” said Maggie Davis, a Graduate Student Worker in Sociology. “Our next step will be to democratically prioritize the changes we plan to bargain for, so we can tackle issues like inadequate pay and health care, a lack of protections against abusive conduct, and insufficient support for international students.”

Over the past two years, more than 20,000 academic workers in California alone have unionized with UAW. UAW now represents nearly 100,000 higher ed academic workers across the country – and more Academic Student Employees than any other union.

“I want to congratulate USC’s student workers on their incredible hard work, and welcome them to the UAW,” said Mike Miller, Director of UAW Region 6. “Like their 7,000 colleagues in the LA-area who have already joined the UAW, they are part of a movement of higher ed workers who are coming together to improve academia. We look forward to working together as they bargain a contract.”

“The UAW is so proud to support these brave workers at USC, and thousands of other academic workers across the country, as they fight for the right to self-determination,” said UAW International President Ray Curry. “Issues like low pay, job insecurity, harassment and discrimination aren’t going away on their own. USC’s workers are building a strong framework for changing how higher ed works for the better. And we are proud to stand with them.”

In just this past year, Research Scientists and Engineers at the University of Washington voted 85% in favor of unionizing with UAW, Mt. Sinai Postdoctoral Researchers voted 89.5% in favor of unionizing with UAW, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute Grad Employees voted 96% in favor of unionizing with UAW.

Learn more about GSWOC-UAW online at www.gswoc-usc.org.

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HarperCollins Union UAW Local 2110 Members Ratify New Contract, Win Improved and New Benefits

New York, NY — HarperCollins Union members have ratified their tentative agreement after a three-month strike against HarperCollins Publishers, a subsidiary of News Corp. Members will be returning to work on February 21.

“We are very proud of this agreement. Our members fought tooth and nail for every letter of it and the result goes beyond the many improvements we’ve won in this contract,” says Olga Brudastova, President of UAW Local 2110. “I am confident this will lead to a long-lasting change in work culture at HarperCollins and perhaps in publishing at large. There are more than two options now: stick it out or leave. There is now a third option of collective action and standing up together for what is right.”

“What members of the HarperCollins union in Local 2110 achieved will rewrite industry standards and inspire other workers in the publishing industry to stand up to employers,” adds UAW Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla.  “Our region stood with the strikers from day one and we celebrate their victory with them.”

HarperCollins employees have had a union for more than 80 years and it is one of the earliest unions of “white collar” workers in the country. Currently, HarperCollins is the only major book publisher in the U.S. to be unionized, though book publishers in other countries have unions. The labor action saw support across the publishing industry and beyond, from authors, agents, booksellers, freelancers, and other publishing employees.

Local 2110 HarperCollins members have been working without a contract since April of 2022.  HarperCollins Union Local 2110 represents 250+ employees in editorial, sales, publicity, design, legal, and marketing departments. The full agreement can be found here.

Local 2110 UAW also represents workers at the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Columbia University, Film Forum, Teachers College, ACLU, Center for Reproductive Rights, The New Press, and many more. The union has a reputation for aggressive organizing and bargaining and progressive politics.

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Statement from UAW VP and Director of UAW-GM Department Mike Booth

Today UAW members who work for General Motors received the news that they may receive up to $12,750 in profit sharing. UAW members have earned their share of the company’s prosperity, and this negotiated benefit reflects that contribution.

Our members are essential to the success of General Motors.  UAW members bring skill, experience, and dedication to the job every day and are well deserving of today’s news.

While we celebrate today, we know that there are challenges ahead.  We will continue to fight for fairness and equity for all UAW-GM members.

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Statement of UAW Vice President Mike Booth on GM’s Announcement of $20.5 Million Investment into Memphis CCA, Ypsilanti Processing Center and Davison Road Processing Center

Our union applauds GM’s announcement of $20.5 million investments into the Memphis CCA, Ypsilanti Processing Center and Davison Road Processing Center, a decision that makes clear that our members are part of the future growth of General Motors.

These investments will make the jobs of our members at Locals 2406 (Memphis, Tennessee), 174 (Ypsilanti, Michigan) and 651 (Burton, Michigan) safer and more secure.  This is happening because UAW members have a proven record of skill, experience and quality that has contributed to the success of GM. 

This announcement comes on the heels of other recent investment announcements from GM.  We will continue to advocate for more investments into all of our facilities as all UAW members at GM are a part of the company’s success and deserve no less.

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UAW Statement on Members’ Ratification of CNHI Agreement

UAW members at Locals 180 and 807 who work for CNHI have ratified a new contract, ending a strike that began on May 2, 2022. The agreement, which was voted on as an improved last, best, and final offer, provides wage increases, shift premium increases, classification upgrades as well as other improvements.

“UAW members at Locals 180 and 807 did the hard work to strengthen the hand of negotiators,” says UAW President Ray Curry.  “This agreement reflects the effort of a determined bargaining team and members being on an almost nine-month strike.”

Vice President Chuck Browning, Director of the Agricultural Implement Department adds:  “Our negotiators tenaciously bargained to the very end, even fighting for contract improvements in the face of threats from CNHI to hire permanent strike replacements. Combined with the incredible support from our members, it’s remarkable what had to be endured to achieve this contract.”

“We sincerely thank the membership and their families of locals 180 and 807, surrounding communities and all local unions who dedicated support during this struggle,” states UAW Region 4 Director Brandon Campbell.  “That continued support helped the bargaining team persist, even in the face of the employer’s threats.”

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Statement of President Ray Curry on General Motors Announcement of Investments in UAW Facilities

Today, General Motors announced $918 million in investments at four UAW facilities to support truck production and future electric vehicle (EV) production.  

Our union celebrates the announcement of these new investments into our GM facilities which will benefit our members at Locals 659 (Flint, Michigan), 362 (Bay City, MI), 211 (Defiance, OH) and 1097 (Rochester, NY).  The skill and dedication of UAW members are a key part of GM’s success, and this investment recognizes that our members will remain a vital part of GM’s future.

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Statement of UAW President Ray Curry on Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Our great union’s core values are rooted in social justice and equality. From the start of our union, we have fought for social and economic equality for all people, not just our members. Much like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we believe that all people should have an opportunity to thrive and achieve the American dream.

Dr. King said: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal.” Our union shares that dream. It is that common vision of what we could be that drew together UAW President Emeritus Walter Reuther and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. These two men were more alike than different. They understood that together they could help achieve better jobs, wages, education, and housing. Reuther and Dr. King both had goals, but they were able to attain more by working together. This should be a lesson to us today. One person can move the needle, but together we can move mountains.

While we have made great strides, we also recognize that there is still much work to be done. The right to vote remains under attack. Disparities continue whether it is access to education or economic opportunities. Too many ask the question: what’s in it for me? when we all should be asking, what can we do to help one another. And most disturbingly, violence against African Americans, Asian Americans, Jewish Americans, and our family in the LGTBQ+ community are on the rise.

The UAW will continue to honor our roots and values as we know that we are all connected. We get there by practicing solidarity. We must unify and take actions together. These actions include electing officials who put our communities first and will create laws and policies that support working people. We will continue to build coalitions to fight against silent and overt inequality in education, jobs, and housing.

Dr. King said, “Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.”

Change can begin with one person. Each one of us can make a difference in our families, our jobs, and our community.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is a day to be of service to mankind. It is a day to reflect on how far we have come and how the dream is not yet achieved. It is a day to that we must examine ourselves to see what part we play in fulfilling the dream.

On this day I am asking you to Stand for equality. Stand for justice. Stand for humanity.

In Solidarity,

Ray Curry, UAW President

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