JACKSON – After months of negotiations, approximately 525 UAW members have walked out on strike at Eaton Aerospace, an aerospace factory in Jackson, Michigan that produces hydraulics equipment for civil, commercial, and military aircraft. The strike came after the workers’ extended contract expired on September 5.

“We are fighting for our future and our community,” said Donnie Huffman, president of UAW Local 475. “Every worker should have the right to be able to spend time with our grandkids. When your CEO is making more than $20 million, it’s pretty galling when they cry poverty at the negotiating table.

“Enough is enough. We’re standing up to fight for what is fair.”

The Fortune 500 company has continued to push for a two-tier retirement system that would end the pension plan and 401(k) for all new hires by the end of the contract.

In addition to fighting to protect their right to retire, workers are also calling for their next contract to provide quality health care, include wages that reflect workers’ contributions to the company’s growing profits, and establish fair processes for scheduling and promotions.

Over the last decade, Eaton Aerospace has had a revenue of over $208 billion and a net income of $22 billion. In 2023 alone, the company had a net income of $3.2 billion, an increase of 31% from the year prior. Eaton paid its CEO $20.5 million in 2023, an increase of 46%. Eaton has yet to offer workers a contract that reflects the gains its top executives have been receiving.

“This company has made billions on workers’ backs,” said Don Donihue, a trustee at the UAW local. “It is insulting that Eaton executives are trying to deny us our right to retire while giving themselves millions year after year. They can clearly afford to pay what we’re asking for.”

“UAW members are not afraid to stand up for what we’re owed. We are fighting for each other and for our families,” said Lynann Bacon, an inspector who works at Eaton. “If Eaton’s executives want to not respect workers, we will hold them accountable.”

“Eaton workers see the record profits and know it should mean a record contract,” said UAW Region 1D Director Steve Dawes. “This corporation continues to funnel money to the top and then ask workers to sacrifice more. Our members see through that and are demanding their fair share of the profits.”

Eaton workers are the latest UAW members to Stand Up during contract negotiations. UAW members have won record contracts in the last year, including at Cornell University in New York and Daimler Truck in North Carolina. The one-year anniversary of the Stand Up strike that resulted in autoworkers at the Big Three winning historic raises and benefits is September 15, 2024.