WASHINGTON — Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO, issued this statement commemorating the first week of the UAW’s historic Stand Up Strike after Ford, GM, and Stellantis failed to offer a fair contract to 150,000 autoworkers:
“We stand strong with striking autoworkers and the 150,000 UAW members who are fighting for a fair contract. It’s time to restore the auto industry’s bygone legacy as a pathway to the middle-class and a boon to American manufacturing. In the week since the historic Stand Up Strike launched at GM, Ford and Stellantis, the Big Three car companies have blamed workers, engaged in fear tactics, and refused to offer a reasonable contract.
“Over the last four years, profits at the Big Three have increased 65 percent and CEO pay has increased 40 percent. Meanwhile, autoworkers’ pay has increased a measly 6 percent and hasn’t kept pace with inflation. In short: workers are doing more for less. Autoworkers are simply rejecting a race to the bottom after facilitating a massive increase in productivity while the Big Three rake in billions in profits.
“The story of David and Goliath is not a new one. We saw it last year with the national contract fight in the freight rail industry. We’ve seen it this year in Hollywood with the ongoing writers and actors’ strikes. In every industry across America, workers are rising up and demanding their fair share.
“This strike should make one thing clear: the era of corporate greed is over. Workers and unions are united in the fight against corporate greed. And we will win.”
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As America’s largest transportation labor federation, TTD represents 37 unions and millions of American workers in manufacturing, construction, aviation, rail, transit, maritime, and more. The UAW is one of the 37 proud unions affiliated with TTD.