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Economic Justice Victory for Automobile Technicians in New York State

Today, September 4, 2024, New York State Governor Hochul will be signing a.4066B (Burgos) / s.5085C (Kennedy) into law. This law Requires Motor Vehicle Dealer Franchisors to Fully Compensate Franchised Motor Vehicle Dealers for Warranty Service Agreements.

As of today, New York State will ensure that Technicians employed at Dealerships will earn equal pay for equal work.

The UAW is proud to have led the fight for the passage of this legislation that supports the highly skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced Technicians who serve as the backbone of Dealerships across New York State.

With today’s signing, New York State will abolish the two-tiered compensation system imposed by the highly profitable Vehicle Manufactures. The Manufactures were permitted, by law, to pay less than fair-market labor time allowances to Technicians for diagnostic and warranty / recall repairs they perform versus the actual fair market labor time allowances charged for out-of-warranty diagnostic and repairs because yesterday’s law offered no definition for what “reasonable compensation” meant.

Today, New York State will define “reasonable compensation” to mean the labor time allowances published in the retail labor time guides utilized by Dealerships for non-warranty diagnostic and repairs. It will also require Vehicle Manufactures to fully fund warranty diagnostic and repairs at Dealerships which enables the Dealerships to pay the equitable labor time allowances to Technicians.

This change is monumental and will add $900 million to New York’s taxable wage base while putting money in New Yorker’s pockets, not multinational corporations. Today, New York State will effectively increase the weekly earnings for both union and non-union Technicians.

Today, New York State is living up to our state motto, Excelsior; we are slamming the door shut on this egregious example of corporate greed. Highly skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced Technicians will no longer have the vehicle manufacturers ripping off their labor, as today, economic justice prevails!

Special recognition to Local 259 members Carlos Gonzalez, Daniel Kunz, Paul Scaperotta, Estaban Sanchez, Will Ganshaw, Tim Gray, Bill Glynn, Krystine Ahearne, Saif Ahmed, Roger Sterk, Sebastian Ragonesi, Paul Tubito, and Pat McGrath. Each sacrificed many hours and days traveling to Albany so to lobby the Assembly and Senate. There were many ups and some significant downs, but we never blinked, we did not give up, and we did not give in.

And many thanks and much solidarity to our sisters and brothers in Region 9 and particularly Locals 686, 774, 897 and 1097. This legislation would not be possible without them. The greedy manufacturers attempted to splinter us, but because there was never any daylight in our SOLIDARITY, we prevailed!

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Ultium Workers in Tennessee Win Their Union as Majority Sign Cards to Join the UAW

SPRING HILL, Tenn. — A majority of workers at Ultium Cells in Tennessee have signed cards to join the UAW and the company has agreed to recognize their union. Ultium, a joint venture of General Motors and LG Energy Solution, did not interfere with the decision by its 1,000 employees to join the UAW. The workers organized without facing threats or intimidation and won their union once a majority of workers signed cards. 

 “This is a great day for Ultium workers and for every worker in Tennessee and the South,” said Trudy Lindahl, a worker at Ultium in Spring Hill. “Southern workers are ready to stand up and win our fair share by winning our unions. And when we have a free and fair choice, we will win every time.”

 The Ultium workers’ victory marks the latest big win for autoworkers in the South. In April, 4,300 workers at Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Tenn., made history as they became the first Southern autoworkers outside of the Big Three to win their union.  

 “The UAW members at Ultium and VW are proving that the new jobs of the South will be union jobs,” said Director Tim Smith of UAW Region 8, which includes Tennessee and ranges from the Southeast to New Mexico. “In the battery plants and EV factories springing up from Georgia to Kentucky to Texas, workers know they deserve the same strong pay and benefits our members have won. And we’re going to make sure they have the support they need to win their unions and win their fair share.” 

 The Ultium plant in Spring Hill, which started production this year, is the second Ultium factory built in the United States and the second to go union. The first, in Lordstown, Ohio, opened in 2022, and workers there also organized with the UAW. 

 “Being unionized will help us reap the benefits as far as better healthcare, better pay, and overall, just having decency within the workplace— not just for us, but future generations,” said Tradistine Chambers, a worker at Ultium in Spring Hill.

Noting the strength that comes from forming a union, Ultium worker Jim Erwin commented, “You’re grouped together, and you can stand up as one. That’s the power of being a union.” He added, “Instead of just one stick, you’ve got several. You can’t snap several sticks, but you can snap one.” 

  Just two months ago, the Ultium workers in Lordstown won a breakthrough contract that sets a new standard for the EV industry. It includes strong health and safety standards and life-changing wage increases. By 2027, the pay for Ultium Lordstown workers will be more than double what it was when the plant opened. 

  The Ultium contract in Lordstown sets a powerful precedent for Spring Hill and for the tens of thousands of new battery jobs that will be coming online soon across the South, including at Ford’s Blue Oval plants in Tennessee and Kentucky.

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UAW Members Ratify Unprecedented Contract at Cornell University that Secures First-Time COLA Increase and Ends Tiers

ITHACA – In a major win for higher education workers, UAW members at Cornell University have voted by 77% to ratify a new four-year contract securing wage increases of up to 25.4%, a groundbreaking first-time cost of living allowance increase, and the elimination of the two-tier wage system. The agreement also introduces significant improvements to policies on time off, uniforms, inclement weather and safety protections.

The deal comes after workers at Cornell, made up of maintenance and facilities workers, dining workers, gardeners, custodians, agriculture and horticulture workers and others, went on strike August 18 and forced the university to meet their demands.

Prior to the strike, Cornell was offering $37 million in new wages and benefits over the life of the contract, which workers knew would not be enough to counter declining real wages and skyrocketing housing costs in Ithaca. After striking, the workers were able to win another $6 million in investments to eliminate tiers, pay living wages, and introduce COLA to protect wages from inflation. All told, the new agreement includes $43 million in new wage and benefit costs.

Over the past four years, Cornell’s endowment has soared 39% to nearly $10 billion and tuition has increased 13% – all while workers’ buying power has fallen 5%.

“The membership was ready to do things differently in these negotiations, and they built the collective power to force Cornell to say ‘Yes’ to a truly unprecedented contract,” said UAW Local 2300 President Christine Johnson. “We united around a clear set of demands and won a great agreement that rewards our work, enhances workplace safety, and will improve our members’ lives.”

Workers will return to work for their next shift starting at 10:00 p.m.

Cornell University workers are the latest UAW members standing up to the billionaire class. Thousands of UAW members have won record contracts in the last year, including auto workers at Daimler Truck, the Big Three automakers, and Allison Transmission workers in Indianapolis, IN.

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UAW Delegation to Germany to Confront Union-Busting at Webasto

Detroit, MI – UAW announced today that a delegation of UAW leaders will bring major concerns about illegal anti-union behavior at Webasto, a German parts supplier with plants in the Detroit area, to counterparts in Germany at a meeting scheduled for next week. The delegation comes after Webasto workers had previously filed Unfair Labor Practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board. UAW also says that it is actively considering whether to file an additional complaint in German Court if Webasto’s illegal anti-union activities do not stop.

“We’re just asking for Webasto to respect our basic rights,” said Isaiah Towns, who works in Webasto – Detroit’s Bonding department. “No one should have to go through what Webasto has been subjecting us to. It’s time for the threats, harassment, and bullying to stop.”

A clear majority of the approximately 600 workers at Webasto – Detroit had previously filed for their union election in late July. The election has been scheduled for September 9 and 10. Workers at the plant report facing excessive anti-union harassment and intimidation from Webasto management. The factory makes the roof top used on the Ford Broncos manufactured by UAW members at the Michigan Assembly Plant. Webasto has distributed anti-union literature with the Ford Bronco logo prominently displayed along with the message “No Bucking Union.”

“This company needs to be held accountable,” said Pelle Burnett, who works in Webasto – Detroit’s PU department. “Webasto has shown that they will go to any length to stop us from winning the right to bargain collectively together. Even though we haven’t won our union yet, we’re still ready to Stand Up to make this unacceptable behavior stop.”

Among other examples of anti-union activity, workers say Webasto has:

  • Disciplined, isolated, intimidated, and terminated workers in retaliation for their union support
  • Changed policy to require workers to get permission before using the bathroom and then prevented a union supporter from using the bathroom for two hours
  • Required workers to attend captive audience meetings
  • Used video cameras to surveil union activity
  • Maintained an unlawful rulebook

An Unfair Labor Practice charge filed with the NLRB noted 17 separate instances of unlawful conduct committed by Webasto managers at the time of the filing. The National Labor Relations Board is actively investigating the charge.

In addition to Webasto’s obligations under American law, if the company is found to be in violation of German law, they could face serious financial sanctions.

An LM-10 filed with the U.S. Department of Labor revealed that Webasto previously paid over $300,000 to an anti-union consulting firm to try to persuade workers at the Webasto-Pilot Road plant against forming a union with the UAW. Ultimately, those workers were able to overcome the anti-union campaign and win a first contract that included raises of up to 51% over three years, better benefits, and improved attendance policies.

In addition to the election at Webasto – Detroit, a clear majority of the approximately 35 workers at Webasto’s Hearns facility filed to form their union on August 27 with the UAW. An election date is in the process of being scheduled.

“Workers want a voice. Workers want to be able to have a free and fair election. Workers want to have their rights respected,” said Steve Gonzales, president of UAW Local 3000. “And we will never back down in making sure that workers win what they deserve.”

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UAW Reaches Tentative Agreement with Cornell University

ITHACA – UAW members at Cornell University have secured a historic tentative agreement, which includes record wage increases of up to 25.4%, a cost of living adjustment, and the elimination of the two-tier wage system. The agreement also introduces significant improvements to policies on time off, uniforms, inclement weather and safety protections. This deal follows an unfair labor practice strike by Cornell workers, which forced the university to offer a contract that truly reflects the workers’ immense value.

“Workers at Cornell were fed up with being exploited and disrespected,” said UAW Local 2300 President Christine Johnson. “This agreement is going to mean a better life for the people who make Cornell run.”

The membership, made up of maintenance and facilities workers, dining workers, gardeners, custodians, agriculture and horticulture workers and others, have been facing declining real wages even as Cornell’s endowment has ballooned and tuition revenue has skyrocketed. Over the past four years, Cornell’s endowment has soared 39% to nearly $10 billion and tuition has increased 13% – all while workers’ buying power has fallen 5%.

Many of the workers have had to move out of Ithaca to afford housing and must pay expensive parking fees to park on campus. The wage for most at the university is less than $22 per hour, far lower than what economists estimate it costs for a family to live in the region. The compensation for top administrators exceeded $12.4 million in 2022.

For weeks, workers ramped up their campaign to win a record contract. They organized red shirt days and held multiple rallies across campus, with community leaders and elected officials often joining them to offer their support.

On August 16, members voted by 94% to authorize a strike, and walked out at 10:00 pm on Sunday, August 18, sending a clear message to Cornell that workers would use their collective strength to stand up against their low-ball tactics.

“The workers at Cornell used their power to push back on Cornell’s arrogance and win a great contract,” said UAW Region 9 Director Daniel Vicente. “They stood together and showed the university that they were willing to do what was needed to win what they deserve.”

The membership will vote to ratify the package on Sunday, Sept. 1 and Monday, Sept 2.

Cornell University workers are the latest UAW members standing up to the billionaire class. Thousands of UAW members have won record contracts in the last year, including auto workers at Daimler Truck, the Big Three automakers, and Allison Transmission workers in Indianapolis, IN.

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Julian Electric Workers File for Union Election to Join UAW, Will Hold Mass Meeting Saturday in Chicago

WHAT:     Press Conference and One-on-one Availability after Mass Meeting
WHEN:     Saturday, Aug. 24, Noon
WHERE:   UAW Local 551, 13550 S Torrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60633

Workers at a parts plant near Chicago have just filed for a union election and are holding a mass meeting on Saturday at a union hall on Chicago’s Southeast Side. A supermajority of the 350 workers at Julian Electric, Inc., in Lockport, Ill., have signed union authorization cards saying they want to form a union with the UAW.

Julian Electric, which supplies parts to Ford, Navistar and other Fortune 500 manufacturers, has already started running an aggressive anti-union campaign against its largely immigrant workforce.

“We are fighting together for respect,” said Gabriela Morales, a worker at Julian Electric. “We do the work here and we deserve a voice. By winning our union we will make ourselves heard!”

On Thursday at 10 a.m., a delegation of workers delivered a letter to Julian Electric’s human resources office asking the company to voluntarily recognize their union. Later that day, the workers also filed a request for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board so they can promptly move forward with a vote if Julian Electric refuses their request.

The Julian Electric workers will hold their mass meeting on Saturday at UAW Local 551 in Chicago. The UAW members of Local 551 work at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant, and the Ford Explorers they make use parts from Julian Electric.

“We are all autoworkers,” said Gilbert Foust, a Ford worker and organizer with Local 551. “Julian Electric workers deserve more money and more respect, and the members of Local 551 are going to do everything we can to make sure they win their union and their fair share.”

“We are human beings, not machines, and it’s time Julian Electric treated us that way,” said Aimee Piña, a union supporter at Julian Electric recently fired by the company. “I was fired for supporting a coworker who was fired unfairly. If we speak up about the heat in the plant—it is so hot some people faint—or the lack of respect, we are fired. We have to have our union, or we will never be heard.”

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UAW Members to Rally Outside Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, Call On Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares to Keep The Promise

On Friday, August 23rd, UAW members will rally outside Stellantis Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP) to call on Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares to honor the union contract and Keep The Promise to maintain product and investment commitments in Belvidere, Illinois and across the country.

Tavares is set to visit SHAP on Friday and has refused to meet with local union leadership.

“We want to make sure Carlos Tavares is listening to the people who make the product that makes this company run,” said UAW Local 1700 President Mike Spencer. “We intend to enforce our national agreement so that this company keeps its commitments, and we intend to make our voices heard.”

WHAT: Rally to Make Stellantis Keep The Promise
WHERE: West side of Van Dyke Avenue, south of 16 ½ Mile Road, Sterling Heights, Michigan
WHEN: Friday, August 23rd, 1-2:30pm

**UAW members are participating in an informational rally to demand Stellantis keep the promise made to autoworkers. We will not be picketing or striking, this is not a work stoppage.  Attendees will not block traffic or driveways. Workers must work their shifts as scheduled.**

On Monday, UAW locals representing tens of thousands of Stellantis workers filed grievances with the company over their failure to Keep the Promise made in contract negotiations in 2023. Once the grievance procedure is exhausted under the national contract, the union may authorize a strike.

For more information on the fight to make Stellantis Keep The Promise, visit UAW.org/KeepThePromise.

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UAW Members and Leaders to Rally in Belvidere, Illinois to Call on Stellantis to Keep the Promise

Belvidere, IL – On Thursday, August 22nd, UAW members and leaders, including UAW President Shawn Fain, Region 4 Director Brandon Campbell, and Local 1268 President Matt Frantzen, will rally in Belvidere, Illinois to call on Stellantis to keep the commitment the company made to reopen Belvidere Assembly and invest in thousands of jobs in that community. 

On Monday, UAW locals representing tens of thousands of Stellantis workers filed grievances with the company over their failure to Keep the Promise made in contract negotiations in 2023. Once the grievance procedure is exhausted under the national contract, the union may authorize a strike. 

“This isn’t just a local fight or just a union fight,” said UAW Region 4 Director Brandon Campbell. “This is a fight for the dignity of work in America. Union or not, from Belvidere or not. If we don’t Stand Up now, when will we? If we don’t Stand Up to protect American jobs, what will we stand for?” 

“The victories we won last year in our Stand Up Strike at the Big Three weren’t suggestions, they were binding commitments in a union contract, and we as the UAW intend to enforce that contract to the fullest extent,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. 

“I find a pathetic irony in the fact that Stellantis is now, for the first time, citing ‘market conditions’ as their reason for attempting to break their promises to Belvidere and autoworkers across America. It’s always ‘market conditions’ when they have to stiff an autoworker or close a plant. It’s never ‘market conditions’ when they want to raise CEO pay by 56%. Carlos Tavares is telling the American autoworker, ‘Market conditions for thee, but not for me.’” 

“They say they want to ‘delay’ reopening Belvidere Assembly but they really want to kick the can past our contract expiration so they can suddenly cite ‘market conditions’ again and never open this plant, never repair the damage they’ve done to thousands of autoworkers and their families. And it’s not just Belvidere. If they go back on this, what else will they go back on? As the company attacks us with layoffs during the most profitable times, what jobs will those workers have left to transfer into? This company made a commitment, on a timeline, to invest in the American autoworker and invest in Belvidere, and that’s why we’re ready to take action to make sure Stellantis keeps the promise.” 

For more information on the fight to make Stellantis Keep the Promise, visit UAW.org/KeepThePromise. 

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UAW Stellantis Locals Prepare Grievances Over Company’s Failure to Keep Product Commitments, Paving Way for Strike Action, if Necessary

Several UAW locals representing tens of thousands of workers under the national UAW Stellantis agreement are prepared to file grievances over the company’s failure to keep its investment commitments and honor the union contract, paving the way for a national strike at Stellantis, if necessary. 

For more information, visit UAW.org/KeepThePromise.

“This company made a commitment to autoworkers at Stellantis in our union contract, and we intend to enforce that contract to the full extent,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “On behalf of autoworkers everywhere, we’re standing up against a company that wants to go back on its commitments and drive a race to the bottom at the expense of the American worker.” 

In the 2023 UAW Stellantis agreement, the union won the right to strike over product and investment commitments, and a historic commitment to reopen Belvidere Assembly, which was indefinitely idled in early 2023. Since ratification, the company has gone back on its product commitments at Belvidere, and has been unreceptive in talks with the union to stay on track. 

Aside from the impact on Belvidere, this glaring violation of the contract imperils all of the other investment commitments the company has made, and also impacts Stellantis members nationally, as they will not have those jobs for transfer opportunities in the event of layoffs. 

Under the UAW Stellantis contract, once an issue has been taken through the grievance procedure, the union may authorize a strike over the grievance. UAW Stellantis members are prepared to take action if necessary. 

Some of the largest locals that may file these grievances include UAW Local 12 (Toledo Assembly, Toledo, OH); Local 140 (Warren Truck, Warren, MI); Local 1700 (Sterling Heights Assembly, Sterling Heights, MI); Local 7 (Detroit Assembly Complex – Jefferson, Detroit, MI); Local 51 (Detroit Assembly Complex – Mack, Detroit, MI); Local 685 (Kokomo Transmission, Kokomo, IN); and Local 1166 (Kokomo Casting, Kokomo, IN). Any local covered under the national UAW Stellantis agreement may file these grievances at any time. 

The language of the grievance filed is as follows:

“The Company has informed the Union that it will not launch the Belvidere Consolidated Mopar Mega Hub in 2024, it will not begin stamping operations for the Belvidere Mega Hub in 2025 and it will not begin production of a midsize truck in Belvidere in 2027.  The Company’s failure to plan for, fund and launch these programs constitute a violation of the U.S. Investment letter in the P&M and OC&E Collective Bargaining Agreements.  During 2023 National Negotiations the parties agreed to the investment plan for Belvidere to address job security concerns impacting bargaining unit members throughout the entire system.  The Company’s failure to honor its commitments in the U.S. Investment letter is a serious concern to all bargaining unit members. 

Demand:  The Union demands that the Company rescind its decision to push back the above-referenced launches and immediately plan for and fund the Belvidere investments in order to comply with the agreed upon timeline for launching the Belvidere Mega Hub (2024), the Belvidere Stamping operation (2025) and Belvidere midsize truck production (2027).” 

For more information, visit UAW.org/KeepThePromise.

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Over 1,000 UAW Members Go On Strike at Cornell University

ITHACA – After months of negotiations, over 1,000 UAW members have walked out on strike at Cornell University, as the university has failed to present a fair package and has not bargained in good faith, stalling and retaliating against protected union activity by the workers.

The membership, made up of maintenance and facilities workers, dining workers, gardeners, custodians, agriculture and horticulture workers and others, are facing declining real wages even as Cornell’s endowment has ballooned and tuition revenue has skyrocketed. Over the past four years, Cornell’s endowment has soared 39% to nearly $10 billion and tuition has increased 13% – all while workers’ buying power has fallen 5%. 

Many of the workers have had to move out of Ithaca to afford housing and must pay expensive parking fees to park on campus. The wage for most at the university is less than $22 per hour, far lower than what economists estimate it costs for a family to live in the region. The compensation for top administrators exceeded $12.4 million in 2022.

“Workers at Cornell are fed up with being exploited and used. The university would much rather hoard its wealth and power than pay its workers fairly,” said UAW Local 2300 President Christine Johnson. “Cornell could have settled this weeks ago. Instead, they’ve scoffed and laughed at us and broken federal law. We’re done playing around.”

UAW Local 2300 recently filed seven separate unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Cornell University, citing violations of workers’ rights and federal labor laws amid ongoing contract negotiations.

“The workers at Cornell are pushing back against the university’s arrogance and greed. With a $10 billion endowment, the administration can more than afford the members’ demands,” said UAW Region 9 Director Daniel Vicente. “Workers in Local 2300 are showing the university that they are willing to do what’s needed to win what they deserve.”

Cornell University workers are the latest UAW members standing up to billionaire class greed. Thousands of UAW members have won record contracts in the last year, including auto workers at Daimler Truck, the Big Three automakers, and Allison Transmission workers in Indianapolis, IN.

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