(WWJ) As the UAW’s historic Stand Up Strike against the Detroit Three automakers reached a 10th day on Sunday, workers at the Canadian autoworkers union, Unifor, voted to ratify a contract agreement with Ford.
The three-year deal features a 15% increase in wages over the course of the contract, according to the Detroit Free Press. The deal also sees improvements to pension benefits and commitments to job security, according to the report.
While Unifor now turns its attention to talks with GM and Stellantis, the UAW’s push for higher wages and better benefits continues.
“It’s hard to tell how much, if any, progress they’re making. When expanding the strike on Friday, UAW President Shawn Fain said Ford was ahead of GM and Stellantis, but they weren’t close to a deal,” WWJ AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert said.
While Ford’s deal with Canadian workers includes job security provisions and better pensions, Gilbert says the wage increases are “far below” what the UAW is seeking here.
The UAW expanded its strike – the first ever against all of the Detroit Three – on Friday afternoon, striking 38 more facilities across 20 states.
After negotiations continued through the weekend, WWJ's Charlie Langton reported Monday morning that there appeared to be no end in sight as the UAW strike entered its 11th day.
Among the facilities told to walk off the job was the MOPAR parts plant in Center Line. Rich Boyer, the VP of the UAW Stellantis Department at the plant, told WWJ CEO salaries among the automakers have gotten out of hand.
“I’m an old military guy. We don’t leave anybody behind. Our job is to work for everybody equally and give them a future. They keep talking about the folks being overcompensated and making too much money,” Boyer said. “Well tell them to bring their pay down to what the CEOs of Toyota and Hyundai make – that $1 million instead of that $24-29 million a year.”
Wayne State University Professor of Business Marick Masters says while the strikes so far have been “limited,” so too has been the economic impact. While a prolonged strike could put strain on Michigan’s economy, Masters says it goes beyond just our state.
“Because the companies are heavily concentrated in Michigan and the supplier base is heavily concentrated in Michigan, the more strike activity – particularly those affecting assembly plants and parts plants – if they were to unfold in greater level would accelerate the hardship the people face.” Masters said live on WWJ Sunday.
President Joe Biden said he will join UAW members on the picket lines in Metro Detroit on Tuesday, one day before former President Donald Trump is expected to speak with striking union members in Clinton Township.