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Autoworkers Score Major Victory as GM Reinvests Billions in U.S. Plants Following Auto Tariffs

General Motors announced yesterday it will invest $4 billion over the next two years across three U.S. plants in Michigan, Kansas, and Tennessee—bringing thousands of good union jobs back to the U.S.

This announcement marks a turning point in the long fight to reverse the damage caused by NAFTA and decades of so-called “free trade.” As auto tariffs help drive the return of production to the U.S., we’re beginning to undo the harm inflicted on blue-collar communities by policies that offshored jobs and gutted local economies.

By raising wages at GM globally, this shift signals the beginning of the end of the race to the bottom—where workers are forced to compete across borders over how little they can survive on, while corporations rake in billions.

“GM’s decision to invest billions in American plants and prioritize U.S. workers is exactly why we spoke up in favor of these auto tariffs,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “The writing is on the wall: the race to the bottom is over. We have excess manufacturing capacity at our existing plants, and auto companies can easily bring good union jobs back to the U.S. They can prove the naysayers wrong by investing in our communities and putting workers before corporate greed. GM is showing that it can be done.”

The UAW has long called for an end to the unfair trade practices that allowed automakers to offshore U.S. jobs, slash wages, and shutter dozens of once-thriving plants. More than 2 million vehicles a year have disappeared from American production lines over the last decade, while factories across Mexico and low-wage regions flourished under an exploitative trade system.

“The UAW has always stood up for job security—and we are seeing results. In just the past two months, GM has announced five major investments in American auto plants. That’s no coincidence. Skilled UAW members in Michigan, Kansas, Tennessee, and beyond are the reason GM turns a profit,” said UAW Vice President Mike Booth. “It’s great to see the company reinvest in the union workforce that makes it all possible. Our members show their American Spirit and pride in building the world-class vehicles and components that keep this industry strong—right here at home.”

As the auto industry shifts its supply chains and capital investment back to the U.S., the UAW continues to push for a robust industrial policy:

  • Strong tariffs on imported vehicles and parts to stop the offshoring of jobs.
  • Renegotiation of USMCA, including enforceable labor standards and a North American minimum wage.
  • Reshoring of the auto parts supply chain to ensure American manufacturing up and down the supply chain.
  • Federal support to protect and create good auto jobs, not corporate giveaways.
  • An end to stock buybacks and profit hoarding, so auto companies reinvest in jobs, wages, and U.S. manufacturing instead of enriching executives and Wall Street’s investor class.

Today’s announcement is a clear sign that with the right trade policies and worker-led organizing, the U.S. can rebuild its auto industry to work for working-class Americans—not just Wall Street. The announcement comes on top of GM’s nearly $1 billion investment in Tonawanda Propulsion and its $579 million investment at Flint Engine Operations. The Flint commitment was secured in the union’s 2023 national contract through the membership’s historic Stand Up Strike.

“We’ll work with anyone—Democrat, Republican, or independent—who’s serious about ending the ‘free trade’ disaster and building an economy that respects working-class people,” said Fain. “But let’s be clear: tariffs without worker power just mean bigger paydays for the boss. Tariffs increase profits—but only unions increase wages. Tariffs can protect an industry. Only unions can protect workers.”

This investment is a step in the right direction—but there’s much more work to do. To truly end the race to the bottom, we need enforceable protections for workers both in the U.S. and abroad. That means real rights on the job, the freedom to assemble and organize, and strong unions across borders. Trade policy without labor rights is just corporate welfare—and we won’t settle for that.

Ending offshoring and rebuilding the auto industry also means policies that help the entire working class: a strong National Labor Relations Board, secure retirements through Social Security, guaranteed health care through Medicare and Medicaid, and dignity on and off the job. This is how we ensure today’s gains become tomorrow’s standard—not just for autoworkers, but for all working-class people.

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Important Update for UAW Stellantis Members from Director Kevin Gotinsky

UAW Stellantis Members,

After the previous Stellantis leadership pursued a misguided race-to-the-bottom strategy—leading to plummeting sales and thousands of layoffs—the company is now working to regain its footing. The board has appointed Antonio Filosa, former head of North American operations, as the new CEO. UAW leadership will continue to meet with Filosa to push for honoring commitments to increase investment in American workers.

But we’re not just taking management at its word. We have a responsibility to enforce our contract and ensure our laid-off members are brought back to work. Contract enforcement is strongest when our members are actively involved. You are the first line of defense on the shop floor against any violations of the agreement. That’s why the UAW Stellantis Department regularly updates you on important contractual issues.

If you believe the company is violating the contract, contact your steward or committee person immediately.

Indefinite Layoffs are Decreasing

While we still have a way to go, we’re making real progress in getting our membership back to work. We hit a peak of 3,228 indefinitely laid-off members on February 1. On June 1, we saw that number decrease to 2,425 indefinitely laid-off members. We expect that number to decrease further in the coming months. The company has agreed to backfill an additional 423 vacant positions in June, due to workers taking separation packages (VTEPs and IPRs). That will bring us close to 2,000 indefinitely laid-off workers across Stellantis, a reduction of around 1,200 workers on indefinite layoff. While this progress is meaningful, we know that even a single member on indefinite layoff is one too many. We remain fully committed to using every tool at our disposal to end these layoffs and ensure all our members return to work.

Be Vigilant: Summer Replacements

There has been confusion about the company’s ability to hire summer replacements, while our members are laid-off. The company has posted some ads and held hiring events in certain locations for new, off-the-street hires. Some members are asking whether this is a violation of our contract. Our contract requires the company to recall all laid-off full-time employees on a plant’s recall list and in a plant’s labor market, before hiring new full-time employees (M-16). However, the company is currently able to bring on new temporary part-time employees, if there is no business need for a full-time position. We need to make sure that the company follows our agreement. If you know of any new full-time hires, please notify a union representative immediately, as we will want to take swift action.

Welcome New UAW Members at Stellantis StarPlus Battery Plant

Welcome to our new UAW sisters and brothers at StarPlus, the Stellantis Battery Joint Venture with Samsung, in Kokomo. Our 2023 agreement brought these battery workers under our Stellantis master agreement for the first time ever and they just successfully completed the card check process to join UAW Local 1166. Let’s give these 400 plus workers a warm welcome to the UAW. We are all stronger when every Stellantis worker negotiates under one master agreement, so it’s important for all of us that StarPlus is now part of the UAW.

Update on Dundee Temporary Layoff

Due to the length of the temporary layoff at Dundee Engine, healthcare coverage expired for 238 workers who were temporarily laid-off at Dundee. The Stellantis Department successfully negotiated the reinstatement of these benefits for the affected members, beyond what was contractually required during a temporary layoff. We are in regular communication with Stellantis about Dundee and are pressing the company to finish their retooling, while ensuring that the health and safety of our members is the top priority.

Belvidere Reopening Progress

As part of the process of bringing Belvidere Assembly back online, we have learned that the company has selected a lead launch coordinator. They have also started to select launch coordinators for various departments. The company is having teams walk through the plant to determine what work will need to be done by Skilled Trades prior to opening. This is positive news that shows that plans to reopen the plant are moving ahead. We will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that we are on track and the contract is followed.

Our strength as a union comes from our membership. We appreciate you staying informed about these important issues and helping us enforce our contract.

In solidarity,

Kevin Gotinsky

Director, UAW Stellantis Department

Download the full letter:

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UAW President Shawn Fain Rallies with Detroit Members Behind Rev. Kinloch for Detroit Mayor

In Detroit, UAW members and their families stand ready to knock doors, make calls, and turn out strong for the mayor’s race

Media must RSVP by Friday, June 6 at 5 p.m. ET: UAW.us/KinlochLaunchMedia


DETROIT—UAW members from Detroit will rally with President Shawn Fain and Rev. Solomon Kinloch—the union’s endorsed candidate for mayor and a former UAW Local 235 member. In May, the UAW endorsed Rev. Kinloch, a proud son of a UAW family, for his lifelong advocacy for working people and bold vision for an inclusive Detroit. Regions 1 and 1A, which cover the city, will lead a major turnout push to help elect him.

WHO: UAW President Shawn Fain, Rev. Solomon Kinloch, UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English, UAW Region 1A Director Laura Dickerson and hundreds of UAW members

WHAT: Rally celebrating the UAW’s endorsement of Rev. Kinloch for Detroit mayor

WHERE: UAW Solidarity House, 8000 E. Jefferson, Detroit, MI 48214

WHEN: Saturday, June 7 at 10:00 a.m.

The UAW firmly stands with Rev. Kinloch’s campaign message: as Detroit has made a comeback, far too many working-class families are still left behind.

Rev. Kinloch shares the UAW’s understanding that the revival of the city means nothing if it doesn’t reach everyone. He has stood in solidarity with UAW members time and again—including walking the picket line with UAW Local 900 members and feeding strikers and their families during their recent strike—proving that he doesn’t just talk about economic justice; he lives it.

The UAW is the largest union in Michigan with over 350,000 active and retired members. In the City of Detroit, UAW members and their household family members are over 120,000 strong. The UAW is ready to be a difference-maker in this election, with members of both the union and Rev. Kinloch’s church ready to knock doors, make calls, and turn out in force in Detroit’s mayor’s race.

Media must RSVP by Friday, June 6 at 5 p.m. ET: UAW.us/KinlochLaunchMedia

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UAW Releases New Video on Andrew Cuomo’s Failures for Working-Class New Yorkers

NEW YORK—Today, the UAW released a new video highlighting the failures of Andrew Cuomo as Governor of New York for working-class people and communities across the state. On Friday, UAW Region 9A endorsed Zohran Mamdani #1 for mayor along with a full ballot suggestion including explicit instructions to not rank Andrew Cuomo. UAW was the first union to endorse Mamdani and has been explicit in Cuomo’s failures for working people.

“In the UAW, our endorsements are earned,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “We support politicians who stand with us, and who have the courage to fight for the working class.

“Zohran Mamdani has stood shoulder to shoulder with us in our fight against some of the toughest bosses in New York City. He’s been to countless UAW picket lines. He’s fought for better wages, for our livelihoods, and for a livable city for UAW members.

“We need new elected leaders who are not afraid to pick a side—politicians who will put workers over corporate donors every single time. That’s why our union is proud to support Zohran Mamdani and a ranked slate of pro-worker champions for mayor.”

The video can be accessed in full here and is free for use by the media.  

In 2019, UAW was the driving force behind the passage of a bill providing unemployment benefits for striking workers in the New York State legislature. Later that year, while waiting for then-Governor Cuomo to sign the bill into law, UAW members at General Motors went on a six-week strike. Instead of being able to access the benefits the legislature granted, UAW members were left in the lurch by Cuomo, who not only refused to sign the bill during the strike to provide immediate relief for the members, but also refused to visit the picket line in solidarity.

“We can’t trust politicians who got us into the current mess to lead us out,” said UAW Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla. “Especially when they refused to support striking workers when they needed help the most.

“20,000 UAW members in New York City know that they can stand up for a future in New York and reject the corruption and cronyism of Andrew Cuomo. We can fight for a future that includes a rent freeze, fast and free busses, and universal childcare. We have an alternative for working people on June 24 by ranking Zohran Mamdani #1 and our ranked choice slate.”

In 2023, when UAW members engaged in the historic Stand Up Strike, with the support of nearly every politician and 80% of Americans, Cuomo again was nowhere to be seen. Unlike the UAW’s endorsed slate of candidates for New York City Mayor, who have all shown up to countless picket lines in support of workers over the last decade, Andrew Cuomo has shown up to fewer picket lines than JD Vance.

Full transcript of the UAW’s new video about Cuomo’s anti-labor record here: 

UAW Local 1097 President (Rochester) Dan Maloney:

I’m sure other speakers will talk about the 15,000 seniors that died in New York State nursing homes due to Covid and the serious missteps of the Cuomo administration. I’m not here to talk about that.

I’m sure other speakers will discuss the multiple sexual harassment charges brought against former governor Cuomo, but that’s not what I’m here to talk about, either.

I’m here to tell you that when the United Auto Workers needed Governor Cuomo’s help, he turned his back on us.

UAW Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla:

Our members want a better, safer, and more affordable city. Someone who passes up the opportunity to support workers in a time of crisis, that person is unfit to be mayor of working class New Yorkers.

UAW Region 9 CAP Director (Tonawanda) Wence Valentin III:

Our membership across the country went out on strike in September of 2019 against GM. UAW Region 9 and 9A worked hard, lobbied the state legislature to get a bill passed that would ensure that unemployment would come after one week.

Cuomo, as governor, had the chance to sign that bill into law. Not only did he not sign that bill into law, he never stepped foot on any of our strike lines. Let me repeat that. He never stepped foot on any of our strike lines. Cuomo was absent and ignored every one of our calls. This is a man who wants you all to believe he supports labor.

Zohran Mamdani:

We’re talking about a man who created tier six, which took more than $100,000 out of the pockets of working class public sector workers. A man who I just saw for the first time in my life just last week, describing tier six as ancient history.

The only thing that’s ancient history is Andrew Cuomo.

Brad Lander:

Enough with the corruption. Enough with the chaos. Enough with the yielding to corporate bosses. Let’s elect a mayor who works for working New Yorkers.

Dan Maloney:

When we needed Andrew Cuomo, Cuomo showed cowardice. So New Yorkers… Don’t get fooled again.

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UAW Celebrates GM’s Nearly $1 Billion Investment in Tonawanda Propulsion

TONAWANDA, NY– Yesterday, General Motors announced an additional $888 million investment in its Tonawanda Propulsion plant. For months, union leaders have been in active discussions with GM to advocate for increased investment in its UAW facilities. The investment will support the company’s next generation V-8 engines which are used in full-size trucks and SUVs.

“This enormous investment is exactly what we’ve been calling for,” said UAW Vice President Mike Booth. “Skilled UAW members, like members of UAW Local 774, make GM’s profits, so it’s great to see the company investing back into its union workforce so we can keep building quality, world-class products.”

“It’s time for Ford and Stellantis to learn from GM,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “GM is showing that it makes good business sense for major corporations to reverse course on the destructive race-to-the-bottom trade policies that have wreaked havoc on workers and destroyed blue-collar towns and cities across America.”

The announcement comes on top of GM’s $579 million investment to build the same V-8 engine at Flint Engine Operations, represented by UAW Local 659. That earlier commitment in Flint was secured in the union’s 2023 national contract through the membership’s historic Stand Up Strike.

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UAW Marine Drafters Ratify Contract, Locking in Major Gains

Groton, CT—After an unprecedented contract campaign, UAW Local 571 members have ratified a new contract with General Dynamics – Electric Boat. Members voted by 85% to ratify the new agreement.

During the campaign, the local leadership rejected closed-door bargaining, and instead regularly updated their membership on negotiations. Union members built a new network of over 100 strike captains, and signed up 2,200 members, or more than 90% of the bargaining unit, for picket duty — mounting a serious threat of a strike.

The member-driven campaign resulted in major gains for members of the Marine Draftsmen Association (MDA). The five-year agreement, covering more than 2,400 workers in Groton who design our nation’s nuclear submarines, secures a 30% wage increase over the life of the agreement and an improved wage progression. In total, MDA-UAW members will see a cumulative $115,000 per-member increase in total compensation during the agreement.

“We did negotiations differently this time,” said Bill Louis, the President of Local 571. “Our members worked hard and got involved in our campaign. After more than a decade of ‘living to fight another day,’ we finally stood up and won the respect that all workers deserve.”

“I want to congratulate the members of MDA-UAW,” said UAW Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla. “They showed that you don’t need to play by management’s rules. When union members get involved in the bargaining process, we win contracts that raise the standard for the entire working class.”

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StarPlus Workers in Indiana Win Union as Majority Sign Cards to Join the UAW

KOKOMO, Ind. — A majority of workers at StarPlus Energy in Kokomo, Indiana, have signed cards to join the UAW, and the company has agreed to recognize their union. StarPlus, a joint venture between Stellantis and Samsung SDI, stayed neutral during the process and did not stand in the way of the 420 workers who chose to organize. With no threats or pressure, workers came together and won their union as soon as a majority signed cards.

“This is a big deal for StarPlus workers in Indiana,” said Frank Bush, a worker at StarPlus. “We were able to decide our future without intimidation, and now we’re on a path to the good pay and benefits, and respect on the job that other autoworkers in battery are winning.”

StarPlus workers are joining a growing wave of union wins across the Midwest and South. Their success follows major victories at other battery plants, including Lordstown, Ohio, and Spring Hill, Tennessee, where workers unionized with the UAW and won strong agreements.

“The UAW members at StarPlus stood up to make sure battery jobs are good union jobs,” said Dave Green, Director of UAW Region 2B. “Workers in Indiana and across the region, know they deserve fair wages, workplace protections, and the dignity that UAW members have been fighting for the last 90 years. As a union family, they need to know that we’re going to have their back every step of the way.”

The Kokomo plant started production earlier this year and is part of a larger expansion of electric vehicle battery manufacturing in the U.S. The victory in Kokomo adds to the momentum sparked by the breakthrough contracts won by UAW members at the Lordstown and Spring Hill plants, which included major wage increases and strong health and safety protections.

“Joining the union is going to help us build a better life,” said Anna Deweese, another StarPlus worker. “We’re not asking for the moon—we just want decent pay, affordable healthcare, and to have protections in an uncertain economy.”

Sara Kidwell, also at StarPlus, added, “When you’re on your own, it’s hard to speak up. But when we stand together, they’ve got to listen. That’s what being in a union is all about.”

The protections won through the Big Three agreement provide a powerful framework for workers at new EV plants like StarPlus. With strong union support, workers are now in a better position to secure fair wages, safe workplaces, and long-term stability in this fast-growing industry.

While workers in Kokomo move forward, others are still waiting for a fair shot. At BlueOval SK in Kentucky, workers have filed for a union election but remain in limbo as the company and Ford drag out the process and deploy intimidation and surveillance tactics. The BlueOval SK facility was recently the subject of a Louisville Courier-Journal exposé, which detailed hazardous working conditions, including chemical exposure, mold, bat infestations, and workplace injuries. Workers there have pointed to the promise of union protections as a key reason for coming together. They continue to fight for a voice on the job, for safety, and for dignity—just like the workers at StarPlus.

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UAW Endorses Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. for Mayor of Detroit

Detroit, MI — The United Auto Workers have endorsed Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. for Mayor of Detroit. A longtime advocate for working-class people, Kinloch possesses not only a bold vision for an inclusive Detroit but also deep union roots — as a former member of UAW Local 235 and the son of a proud UAW family.

As Detroit has made a comeback, far too many working-class families have still been left behind. Rev. Kinloch understands that the revival of the city means nothing if it doesn’t reach everyone. He has stood in solidarity with UAW members time and again — including walking the picket line with UAW Local 900 members and feeding strikers and their families during their recent strike — proving that he doesn’t just talk about economic justice; he lives it.

“In this election, Detroit needs a champion who will fight for the working class and build a city that works for everyone — not just the few,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “Rev. Kinloch has the heart, the vision, and the moral leadership to deliver for working people.”

“He’s one of us,” said UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English. “He knows what it means to punch a clock, stand shoulder to shoulder with your brothers and sisters, and demand dignity on the job.”

“UAW members in Region 1A know that solidarity isn’t just a slogan for Solomon Kinloch — it’s how he lives,” said UAW Region 1A Director Laura Dickerson. “When our members were on strike and needed assistance, he didn’t hesitate. He showed up. He lifted us up. Having been a UAW member himself, he understands the power of standing together.”

The UAW is the largest union in Michigan with over 350,000 active and retired members. In the City of Detroit, UAW members and their household family members are over 120,000 strong. The UAW is ready to be a difference-maker in this election. Following a launch event later this spring, UAW members will knock doors, make calls, and turn out in force to elect Rev. Kinloch.

La Jornada: To Mexican Autoworkers

English

4/30/25 

La Jornada 

To Mexican Autoworkers 

By UAW President Shawn Fain 

I am an autoworker. My grandparents were autoworkers. I grew up in an autoworker town called Kokomo, Indiana. 

As a young father, I got a job as an electrician at Chrysler. I joined the UAW – the United Auto Workers – and it changed my life. Through the union, I learned that no matter where you’re from, if you work for a living, the working class is your family. So today, on International Workers Day, May Day, I want to say loud and clear: Mexican autoworkers are not our enemy. You are our family. 

We, Mexican and U.S. autoworkers, work for the same corporations that rake in tens of billions of dollars in profits made on the backs of working people. We both take enormous pride in the quality of the work we do. And we are both getting screwed by a disastrous free trade system that pits us against each other in a race to the bottom while the billionaires get richer. 

I saw this happening in the 1990s in my hometown of Kokomo, Indiana. Kokomo was an auto town. Regular working-class people had good blue-collar jobs with GM and Chrysler. My grandparents came to Kokomo in the 1930s during the Great Depression in search of a better life.  

When I see Mexican autoworkers fighting for a better life for themselves, that’s who I see: my grandparents. The UAW didn’t tell my grandparents “go back to where you came from.” The UAW said “sign your union card, and let’s fight for a better life.” 

In the 1990s, I saw the Kokomo I grew up in begin to disappear. Plants started to close. Families got torn apart. Why? So the automakers could make another dime off the backs of even more exploited workers in other countries. 

The Mexican working class saw the writing on the wall, too. Along with NAFTA, there was a broad push to keep the Mexican working class down. A young Claudia Sheinbaum attended protests, demanding fair trade. At the first minute of 1994, as NAFTA went into effect, an Indigenous uprising showed the world that Mexico’s working people were not fooled by so-called “free trade.” The only people celebrating were the billionaires and their lackeys. 

After thirty years of NAFTA, both Mexican and US autoworkers are worse off. The higher standards and additional jobs we were promised? They never materialized In fact, the exact opposite happened.

When adjusted for inflation, Mexican autoworkers’ average dollar-per-hour wage has in fact decreased significantly. Mexican autoworkers make, right now, a tenth of the wages made by U.S. and Canadian autoworkers, whose real wages have fallen too. 

For the last few years, independent unions at GM Silao, Volkswagen, Audi, Good Year in San Luis Potosi, just to mention a few, have made impressive strides towards consolidating an independent and authentic Mexican labor movement and are fighting like hell to close the wage gap. But the facts speak for themselves. Companies still blacklist union workers. Judges still break up independent unions in Mexico. And corporations still pay poverty wages while raking in billions. 

We cannot wait another thirty years while our communities get destroyed, and our families broken. The UAW has called for an end to the free trade disaster. Because no corporation that makes billions of dollars in profits should pay someone three dollars an hour to give their life to a factory. 

The UAW has called for a North American minimum wage for autoworkers. Because if companies want to compete, it shouldn’t be over how little they can pay their workers, and how badly they can treat us. That’s a race to the bottom. 

The UAW has called for international solidarity among US, Mexican, and Canadian autoworkers. Because the companies are united in their mission to squeeze us for every penny. And we need to be united in our mission to win a dignified life. How do the corporations get away with it? Divide and conquer. They divide US and Mexican autoworkers, and try to get us to fight each other for crumbs, while they walk away with the whole pie. So let me say clearly: the UAW stands with you, our Mexican union family. You, the Mexican autoworker, deserve better. You deserve a living wage, not a poverty wage. You deserve the right to a free, independent union where your voice is heard. You deserve healthcare, a decent retirement, and time to spend with your family.  

Just like American autoworkers. And we will use every tool in the toolbox, from tariffs to renegotiating the USMCA to strikes to political action, to win our fair share, no matter what country you’re in.  

We will support the cause of the Mexican autoworkers, because it is our cause. To win back dignity for the working class of all countries. On this very special May Day we salute you. We commend you. We stand in solidarity with you and all working people everywhere.  

This op-ed ran in La Jornada on April 30, 2025. 

Español

4/30/25 

La Jornada 

A los trabajadores mexicanos de la industria automotriz 

By UAW President Shawn Fain 

Soy un obrero de la industria automotriz. Mis abuelos fueron obreros de la industria automotriz. Crecí en un pueblo de obreros de la industria automotriz llamado Kokomo, Indiana.  

Siendo padre joven, me empleé como electricista en Chrysler. Me afilié a la UAW, el Sindicato del Sector Automotriz, y me cambio la vida. Por ellos aprendí que no importa de donde seas, si trabajas para vivir, tu familia es de clase obrera. 

Por eso hoy, primero de mayo, en el Dia Internacional de los Trabajadores, quiero decir fuerte y claro: el obrero mexicano no es nuestro enemigo. Ustedes son nuestra familia. 

Los obreros de la industria, mexicanos y estadounidenses, trabajamos para las mismas empresas que acumulan decenas de miles de millones de dólares en rentas obtenidas a costa de la clase obrera. Ambos sentimos orgullo por la calidad de nuestro trabajo. Y a ambos nos está jodiendo el desastroso sistema de libre comercio que nos pugna en competencia hacia la precariedad, mientras los multimillonarios se hacen más ricos. 

Yo lo vi en Kokomo en los 90s. Mi pueblo era del sector. Su gente de clase obrera tenía trabajos en GM y Chrysler. Mis abuelos llegaron a Kokomo en los 30s durante la Gran Depresión buscando una vida mejor.  

Cuando veo a los obreros mexicanos luchando por una vida mejor para sí mismos, son a ellos a quienes veo: mis abuelos. La UAW no dijo a mis abuelos “regresen por donde vinieron.” La UAW les dijo “afíliense, luchemos por una vida mejor.” 

En los 90s, vi al Kokomo en el que crecí comenzar a desaparecer. Las fabricas cerraban. Las familias se desintegraban. ¿Por qué? Para que las armadoras pudieran ganar más dinero a costa de obreros aún mas explotados en otros países. 

La clase obrera mexicana también vio las señales. Con el TLCAN llegó un esfuerzo amplio para oprimir más a los obreros mexicanos. Una joven Claudia Sheinbaum acudía a manifestaciones demandando un comercio justo. Al primer minuto de 1994, cuando el TLCAN entraba en vigor, un levantamiento indígena mostró al mundo que los pobres de México no se tragaban el supuesto “libre comercio.” Los únicos celebrando eran los millonarios y sus lacayos. 

Después de 30 años del TLCAN, tanto los obreros de México como de EE. UU. estamos peor. ¿Los altos estándares y empleos adicionales prometidos? Nunca se materializaron. De hecho sucedió exactamente lo opuesto. 

El salario promedio en dólares por hora del obrero mexicano en la industria, ajustado a la inflación, de hecho, ha bajado significativamente. El obrero mexicano gana, en este momento, la décima parte de lo que ganan los obreros de EE. UU. y Canadá, para quienes los salarios reales también han decaído.  

En los últimos años, sindicatos independientes en GM Silao, Volkswagen, Audi, Good Year en San Luis Potosí, por mencionar algunos, han logrado avances impresionantes para consolidar un movimiento sindical independiente y autentico y están dando la batalla para cerrar la brecha salarial.  

Pero los hechos hablan por si mismos. Las empresas aún tienen listas negras de activistas. Los jueces siguen socavando a los sindicatos independientes en México. Y las empresas aun pagan salarios de pobreza mientras acumulan miles de millones. 

No podemos esperar otros 30 años mientras destruyen a nuestras comunidades y desintegran a nuestras familias. 

La UAW ha llamado al fin del desastre del libre comercio. Porque ninguna empresa que hace miles de millones en ganancias debería pagar tres dólares la hora por dejar la vida en una fábrica.  

La UAW ha llamado a establecer un salario mínimo norteamericano para la industria. Porque si las compañías quieren competir, no debería ser sobre quien puede pagar menos. Eso es competir hacia la precariedad.  

La UAW ha llamado a la solidaridad internacional de los obreros automotrices de EE. UU., México y Canadá. Porque las compañías están unidas en su misión de exprimirnos por cada centavo. Y debemos estar unidos en nuestra misión de ganar una vida digna.  

¿Por qué las empresas se salen con la suya? Divide y vencerás.  

Ellos nos dividen a los trabajadores automotrices de EE. UU. y México, y pretenden hacernos pelear por migajas mientras ellos se llevan todo el pastel. 

Por eso déjenme decirles claramente: la UAW está con ustedes, nuestra familia sindical mexicana.  

Ustedes, obreros automotrices mexicanos, merecen algo mejor. 

Ustedes merecen un salario digno y no uno de pobreza. 

Ustedes merecen el derecho a un sindicato libre e independiente donde su voz se escuche. 

Ustedes merecen salud, pensión digna y tiempo para la familia. 

Lo mismo que los obreros de EEUU. Y usaremos cada herramienta en el armario, desde aranceles hasta la renegociacion del T-MEC, hasta la huelga, hasta la accion politica, para ganar lo que justamente nos corresponde, sin importar en que pais estén.  

Apoyaremos la causa de los obreros mexicanos, porque es nuestra causa. Hasta ganar la dignidad de la clase obrera en todos los paises. 

En este muy especial primero de mayo, les saludamos. Les felicitamos. Nos declaramos en solidaridad con ustedes y con la clase obrera del mundo.  

*Presidente Internacional de los Trabajadores de los Sectores Automotriz, Aeroespacial, e Implementos de Agricultura Unidos de Norteamérica, UAW.  

This op-ed ran in La Jornada on April 30, 2025. 

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Statement from UAW VP Chuck Browning on Hazardous Conditions at BlueOval SK

In response to this week’s Louisville Courier-Journal story “Chemicals, mold, bats, broken bones: Workers concerned over safety at BlueOval SK plant,” Chuck Browning, UAW Vice President and Director of the Ford Department, issued the following statement:

“The recent reporting on the dangerous conditions at BOSK is infuriating. Workers are being put at risk every single day. Every person in this country should be able to go to work and know they’ll make it home safe—not get sick or injured because of corporate greed or negligence.

Ford should know better. For over 80 years, Ford workers have had a union and a voice. But now, Ford is running an extreme anti-union campaign at BOSK to keep these workers down. It’s shameful.

These workers are demanding what they’ve earned: a real say in their working conditions, especially when it comes to health and safety. Ford, cut the crap. Let them vote.”

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