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After 200-Plus Days on Strike, UAW Local 171 Wins New Contract

UAW Local 171 members that work at Sherwin-Williams Co. in Williamsport, Maryland, have proven the old labor adage “One Day Longer” true once again. After walking the picket lines on strike for over 200 days, workers have won a new agreement with significant contractual gains.

The three-year contract includes an increase in starting wages and top pay, as well as improved pension multipliers. The wage progression to top pay was also reduced from three years to two.

Another major win for Local 171 members is that the entire time workers spent on strike will count towards their seniority for pensions, vacation, disciplinary action, and seniority.

“I want to commend these brave UAW members for their resilience,” said Region 8 Director, Tim Smith. “They were on strike since November of last year, and they absolutely refused to allow the challenges of a prolonged strike to break their solidarity. It’s a testament to their commitment to one another.”

“Region 8 would like to thank all those who stood in solidarity with our members and their families this entire time with donations, as well as their prayers,” Assistant Director George Palmer said. “Thank you to all of the retirees and active members who stood on the picket lines in support of Local 171 as well. Today we celebrate another victory in collective bargaining.”

The Williamsport-area plant makes paint products for Sherwin-Williams Co.

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STATEMENT FROM UAW PRESIDENT SHAWN FAIN ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVING FORD $9.2 BILLION LOAN WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED

Yesterday, the federal government announced a massive $9.2 billion giveaway loan to Ford Motor Co. through the Department of Energy to create 7,500 low-road jobs with no consideration for wages, working conditions, union rights or retirement security. This handout may further enrich Ford shareholders, but it shortchanges communities and the UAW members who produce Ford’s vehicles, powertrains and record-breaking profits.

UAW President Shawn Fain’s response below:

“We have been absolutely clear that the switch to electric engine jobs, battery production and other EV manufacturing cannot become a race to the bottom. Not only is the federal government not using its power to turn the tide – they’re actively funding the race to the bottom with billions in public money.

“These companies are extremely profitable and will continue to make money hand over fist whether they’re selling combustion engines or EVs. Yet the workers get a smaller and smaller piece of the pie. Why is Joe Biden’s administration facilitating this corporate greed with taxpayer money?

“In the past five years, workers who build GM products in Lordstown, Ohio, have had their lives turned upside down as they were forced to retire, quit or uproot their families and move all over the United States when GM closed their plants despite massive profits. Their jobs were replaced in GM’s new joint-venture battery facility with jobs that pay half of what workers made at the previous Lordstown plant. Not only is the White House refusing to right this wrong, they’re giving Ford $9.2 billion to create the same low-road jobs in Kentucky and Tennessee.

“The last time the federal government gave the Big Three billions of dollars, the companies did the exact same thing: slash wages, cut jobs, and undermine the industry that for generations created the best jobs for working families in this country. Autoworkers and our families took the hit in 2009 in the name of saving the industry. We were never made whole, and it’s an absolute shame to see another Democratic administration doubling down on a taxpayer-funded corporate giveaway.”

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2023 UAW Family Scholarship Program

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Constellium Workers Ratify New Contract, Win Strong Pay Increases, More

After standing strong on the picket line for nearly a month, UAW Local 174 members at Constellium Automotive in Van Buren Charter Township, MI, have ratified a new contract.

The agreement provides improved contractual language, including a stronger grievance procedure and additional holidays, while also securing strong pay increases for workers.

“These contract negotiations were very difficult,” said Region 1A Director, Laura Dickerson. “The company was unwilling to work with us and repeatedly cancelled negotiating sessions. Despite this, our members stood together and forced Constellium to offer them a contract that reflects their immense value to the company.”

Local 174 members returned to work this Monday.

Constellium Van Buren supplies parts for the Ford F-150, F-150 Lightning, Explorer and Super Duty at six UAW-represented Ford Assembly plants.

 

 

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NEW UAW VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS BIG 3’s MASSIVE PROFITS, MAKES CLEAR THEY CAN EASILY AFFORD UNION’S CONTRACT DEMANDS

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Message to Master Lock

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UAW’S KANSAS CITY CHAMPS WELCOMED AT THE WHITE HOUSE

Two big Kansas City winners were honored at the White House on Monday.  

Along with the Super Bowl LVII Champion Kansas City Chiefs, President Joe Biden welcomed brand-new UAW member Hafsa Sheikh-Hussein. She was there representing over 400 workers at the Yanfeng plant outside Kansas City in Riverside, MO., who voted to join UAW Local 710 last month. 

Yanfeng workers organized to put an end to low pay, lack of seniority rights, understaffed shifts, and little to no work-life balance at the facility. 

“Winning our union was a big deal and getting to celebrate it with the Super Bowl champions made it even more special,” said Sheikh-Hussein, who works as a quality technician at Yanfeng in Riverside. “Just like the Chiefs’ victory lifted up Kansas City, the improvements we win in a first contract are going to make life better for our whole community.” 

Biden honored the Chiefs in a ceremony on the White House lawn and invited both Sheikh-Hussein and UAW Region 4 Director Brandon Campbell.  

“During the ceremony, the Chiefs talked about the adversity they faced during the season,” said Director Campbell. “How it was unity that allowed them to rise above it—unity and teamwork. That’s so true in our world too. The Yanfeng workers won big because they were united.” 

After the event, both Campbell and Sheik-Hussein met briefly with the President. “I was shaking his hand,” Sheikh-Hussein said, “and when I told him I was UAW, his face lit up and his handshake got even stronger.” 

 “I’ve been with the UAW my whole life,” the President responded. “[The UAW was] the first union to endorse me when I was a 29-year-old kid running for the Senate.”  

“Hafsa and Yanfeng workers won big, and it’s great that President Biden honored their victory. But we could have some big losses in the Midwest if our elected officials don’t fight for strong EV job protections and also to keep good jobs at Master Lock in Milwaukee, Oshkosh Truck and Stellantis in Belvidere,” Director Campbell said, referring to three UAW worksites currently under threat of major job loss.  

With the victory at Yanfeng in Riverside, UAW members have now organized six Yanfeng plants in North America. Over 1,000 UAW members work at the supplier in Highland Park, Romulus, and Monroe, Michigan, Mississauga, Ontario, McCalla, Alabama, and at Riverside. The Riverside plant produces parts for the General Motors Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, represented by UAW Local 31. 

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Postdocs and Researchers at the University of Washington Are on Strike

Hundreds will gather for a strike kickoff rally at 12pm on Red Square.

Seattle, WA – 2,400 UW Postdoctoral Researchers and Research Scientists/Engineers (RSEs) at the University of Washington are on strike after not reaching agreement with UW administration in bargaining. They will head to the picket lines beginning at 5am. Hundreds will gather Wednesday for a strike kickoff rally at 12pm on Red Square. Press are encouraged to attend.

“We love our research but UW left us no choice. We will be striking until we get a fair contract. Our priority has always been ensuring that science at UW is sustainable and inclusive, and that means fair pay so we can all afford rent, take care of our families, and stay in the careers we love,” said Rebecca Bluett, Postdoctoral Scholar at UW.

“Today Postdocs, Researchers, members of the UW community, and community at large are standing together to hold the UW administration accountable. Through our collective action, we hope to compel them to bargain in good faith, so we can finally address the urgent issues we face as researchers committed to our careers in science and research,” said Levin Kim, President of UAW 4121, the union of Postdocs, RSEs and Academic Student Employees at UW.

Picket locations are as follows (see map below):

  • NE 45th St & Memorial Way NE (SW corner)
  • 15th Ave NE & W Stevens Way NE (NE corner)
  • Montlake Triangle: NE Pacific St & Montlake Blvd NE
  • SLU: Mercer St (between 8th and 9th Ave N)

At issue still for RSEs are three core demands: support for an inclusive workforce—including the same harassment prevention program for RSEs that is available for Postdocs and student employees, support for childcare, and fair compensation. For Postdocs, the biggest sticking point is that UW is refusing to pay Postdocs a living wage in line with state minimum wage standards.

The impacts of the strike will be felt across the university system and beyond. There are 6,000 Academic Student Employees, graduate students who work as Research and Teaching Assistants at UW, who have been pledging to respect the picket lines. The MLK Labor Council sanctioned the strike, as did the Joint Council for Teamsters 28. Collectively these labor organizations represent over 100,000 workers in King County, who will be receiving information about the strike and be urged to not cross the picket line.

Research Scientists/Engineers (RSEs) and Postdocs perform a wide range of critical research, from developing new therapies to fight disease, designing policy to tackle climate change, advancing new technologies that will shape the future of research, and much more. Postdocs and RSEs are part of UAW 4121, the union of just shy of 1,500 staff researchers, 900 Postdocs, and over 6,000 Academic Student Employees at UW.

Each unit has been in bargaining with the UW administration for months—Postdocs are negotiating a successor agreement and these are initial contract negotiations for RSEs, who won their union one year ago on June 10.

Updates will be shared as they become available.

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