UAW Strike: Hundreds Gather At Ford's Michigan Plant As Workers Walk Out On 'Detroit Three' Automakers

Hundreds of individuals, including late-shift auto workers and their allies, congregated at a Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) assembly facility in Wayne, Michigan, as the United Auto Workers (UAW) union members initiated their historic walkout.

According to Reuters, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union members walked off the job to begin what is considered the first-ever simultaneous strikes against the “Detroit Three” automakers, including General Motors (NYSE:GM) and Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), Chrysler’s parent company.

Mike Lester, an employee at an automotive supplier, expressed, “This is what union looks like.”

“It’s organized. We’re (here) to make sure … Ford pays their fair share to their employees.”

See Also: Ford’s Jim Farley Fires Back At UAW Leader As Strike Deadline Approaches: ‘There’s No One To Negotiate Wi

The strike was triggered after the union and companies failed to agree on new contracts. The union is demanding a 40% hike in pay, an end to a tiered wage system, and a return to defined-benefit pensions. UAW President, Shawn Fain, stated that Ford could fund better pay and benefits for workers if it reduced stock buybacks and dividends to shareholders.

Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, warned that complying with the union’s demands would put the company out of business. Fain, however, did not rule out more drastic action, such as company-wide strikes, if a deal is not reached.

Meanwhile, Democratic U.S. Representative from Michigan, Debbie Dingell, voiced her support for the workers, emphasizing their need for cost of living adjustments and job security.

“They want to see cost of living adjustments. They’re working on assembly line … and different people are working at different tiers, but doing the same job. So they want to get rid of the tiers and they want job security,” Dingell said.

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Photo Courtesy: David Kn On Shutterstock.com