2023-09-23 12:13:45
The social movement in the American automobile sector has taken on a new dimension with the increase in sites that have joined it and the announcement of an upcoming visit by President Joe Biden to one of the sit-in sites, to try to block the way of his Republican rival, Donald Trump.
The Democratic president, who describes himself as the main supporter of American unions and was invited to make such a gesture, will go to a sit-in in Michigan on Tuesday, as an expression of his “solidarity.”
Biden said in a message on the “X” platform (formerly Twitter), on Friday, “It is time to reach a settlement that satisfies both sides” between automakers and the United Auto Workers Union.
The 80-year-old Democrat has stated several times that manufacturers should distribute their “record profits” to employees.
This comes as Biden was planning a trip to the American West next week, but the opportunity seemed more appropriate to try to cut off the path of his main rival, Donald Trump, who also wants to be the champion of the workers and the popular circles.
In this context, the former Republican president, who is considered the most likely candidate in his party’s primaries for the 2024 presidential elections, planned to participate in a sit-in on Wednesday in Michigan as well, which is an electorally important state.
All of this, surprisingly, casts a political tone on a social movement that clearly expanded on Friday.
The strike expanded at automakers General Motors and Stellantis due to a lack of progress in union negotiations, unlike Ford, where “real progress” was made.
Since midday on Friday (4:00 p.m. GMT), the 38 spare parts distribution centers of these two companies have been affected.
“We won’t wait forever to get fair contracts from the Big Three,” Sean Fine, president of the powerful United Auto Workers union, said in a video.
About 5,600 members of the United Auto Workers union work in these locations, located in twenty states, out of 146,000 who work for the three giant companies in Detroit, Michigan.
Fine said the strike, which began on September 15, will continue at the three plants where about 12,700 members of the United Auto Workers union work.
This is the first strike that affects all three groups at the same time.
Fine added: “We invite and encourage anyone who supports our cause to join us on the picket lines: friends, families, and even the president of the United States.”
At this stage, the economic impact is still limited, but the expansion of movement within Stellantis and General Motors threatens to have greater repercussions, because these centers provide garages and dealers with spare parts for sold vehicles, which directly affects the general public.
“They are making big profits, especially Stellantis,” Fine said on CNBC, adding that the union is considering “many possible moves” for the future.
Each of the strikers receives $500 weekly from the Social Welfare Fund instead of his regular salary.
General Motors accused the leaders of the United Auto Workers union of “manipulating the negotiation process for their own benefit.” The same accusation was made by Stellantis, which “questions whether they intend to reach an agreement in a timely manner.”
Regarding Ford, Sean Fine indicated a “serious desire to reach an agreement” even as “serious problems” remained.
The union is specifically demanding a 40% salary increase over four years, which is equivalent to what the group’s managers have benefited from over the past four years.
(AFP)
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