By David Shepardson
(Reuters) – Union Auto Staff (UAW) President Sean High quality stated Tuesday that the union is looking for formidable profit will increase in contract talks with the three Detroit automakers, together with double-digit wage will increase and defined-benefit pensions for all staff.
UAW made its financial calls for to Chrysler guardian Stellantis on Tuesday and can make presents to Basic Motors (GM) Wednesday and Ford Thursday earlier than the September 14 expiration of the present four-year contracts, High quality stated.
They embrace a proposal to make all short-term staff at US automakers everlasting, strict new limits on using short-term staff and a rise in paid trip.
Fain additionally desires will increase in retirement advantages for present retirees and to make sure all staff obtain outlined profit pensions.
In his remarks on Fb Stay, the union chief described the calls for as “probably the most daring and impressive listing of proposals they’ve seen in a long time”.
High quality stated the three Detroit CEOs have seen their salaries enhance by 40% on common over the previous 4 years.
He singled out Basic Motors CEO Mary Barra, who obtained $29 million in compensation in 2022, and stated it might take an entry-level employee at a GM three way partnership battery plant 16 years to earn as a lot as she made in per week.
Fain listed a number of calls for, together with restoring well being care advantages to retirees and cost-of-living changes. He additionally stated the AFL is proposing that it have the proper to strike to shut factories and eradicate the two-tier wage system below which new staff earn 25% or extra lower than veteran staff.
He famous that the Teamsters not too long ago received a two-tier wage finish in a brand new contract with UPS. Of the demand for a similar within the Detroit Three, High quality stated: “It is flawed to make any employee a second-rate employee. We won’t permit that any longer.”
Stellantis stated he had a “very productive assembly” with Fain and the negotiating committee and can evaluate union requests to know how they align with the corporate’s proposals and the place frequent floor might be discovered.
“We aren’t looking for a franchise settlement,” Stellantis stated.
GM stated it should evaluate the orders as quickly as they’re obtained from the UAW on Wednesday.
Ford stated it appears ahead to working with the UAW on inventive options throughout this time when our dramatically altering business wants a talented and aggressive workforce greater than ever.
High quality additionally stated the Detroit Three must pay staff at shared battery vegetation higher and praised Democratic senators final week for urging corporations to incorporate these staff below grasp agreements.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Enhancing by Chris Reese and Jamie Fried)
