The United Auto Workers strike is having a personal effect on PNW families, faculty, and students.
“The strike gives me mixed emotions, especially with family losing their insurance and having to pay out of pocket,” said Anna McMahon, a junior studying Criminal Justice and Psychology. “It affects us emotionally and financially.”
McMahon’s uncle is an engineer who worked at Ford for 30 years. She said he has not had a raise for the last 15.
The UAW launched its strike on Sept. 15, walking out of three plants. Since then, the strike expanded to several other facilities and about 25,000 of the union’s 150,000 workers. The Ford assembly plant in Chicago is one of those facilities.
After the 2008-2009 recession, the UAW negotiated wage cuts to help GM, Ford and Chrysler survive. Today, the union seeks to restore what it gave up and win significant raises for workers.
It has demanded pay increases of up to 40% over the next four years, annual cost-of-living adjustments, pension benefits for all employees, greater job security, a faster path to full-time jobs for temporary workers, and a four-day workweek. Negotiators also want to eliminate a two-tier pay scale the union agreed to, which allowed automakers to pay newer employees less for doing the same work as more senior workers.
“I strongly support the strike … the thought of going to an auto plant day in and day out can be strenuous and routine,” said Kim Scipes, a Sociology professor and global labor scholar. “I don’t think the UAW should have ever allowed the introduction of the tier system. It is a terrible thing that they have done.”
He said the two-tier system allows manufacturers to pay workers hired after the agreement up to 45% less than those hired before it.
He also believes the negotiations are about fairness, citing the fact that the CEOs of the major automakers have won rich compensation increases during the years worker pay has remained stagnant.
Leaders of Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis – which includes Chrysler, Fiat, and Peugeot — received between $21 and $29 million in compensation last year. GM CEO, Mary Barra, who makes about $29 million, has gotten 34% in pay increases during the last four years — while median employee earnings were $80,034.
“If the CEO is good enough to get a 40% raise, why shouldn’t the people who are doing the work get the 40% raise as well,” he said.
For some students, the issue is personal.
“I want my uncle to receive a health care pension due to his medical bills being paid for along with a 1k monthly income rate,” said McMahon.
The union seeks to protect retirees by restoring a defined pension plan for all workers, including those hired since the two-tier system was instituted, and improvements in retiree health benefits.
“UAW healthcare is one of the top in the country and I feel they have great dental and medical care,” said Brianna Murdock, a sophomore in Nursing. “It will be a blessing when they come to an agreement and resolve things.”
