Striking car workers in the US are escalating their action with walkouts now taking place at 38 General Motors and Stellantis sites. Talks are continuing with Ford.
The members of the United Auto Workers union (UAW) are striking over pay and benefits. The strike started on 15 September with 13,000 workers at the ‘Big Three’ car manufacturers walking out. The escalation will bring out a further 5,600 workers across 20 states.
The UAW has 140,000 members and is fighting for a 36% pay rise over four years of a new contract; car company bosses have only offered 20%. The same companies have made $250 billion in profits in the last ten years and are refusing to budge on other demands including a 32-hour working week.
Members of the Independent Socialist Group (co-thinkers of the Socialist Party in the US) have visited picket lines in solidarity, with workers saying: “We’ve been getting the short end of the stick for decades while the company makes money hand over fist.”
