As the United Auto Workers (UAW) enter the second week of their nationwide strike, the union recently announced new locations where they are calling for walkouts. So far over 39,000 workers have walked out at General Motors factories and offices around the country, with many members also striking at the Ford and Fiat Chrysler plants as well.
The UAW announced that the added strike locations will take place in both Detroit and Lansing, Michigan. It has been reported by local news that as many as 5,000 more workers are expected to join in the walkouts, bringing the total number of workers participating to 44,000. This is the largest worker action taken by the UAW since 2007, when over 73,000 workers went on strike at GM.
The Detroit-based union is asking for better wages, safer working conditions, and for GM to close the gap between temporary and permanent workers. On Monday, picketers created a line outside one of the Detroit factories and chanted phrases to raise awareness about their strike. The newly added walkouts are adding momentum to the already powerful labor action.
The auto workers are also asking for more respectful treatment from General Motors and their corporate leaders. One of the picketers noted that the company has “been treating us like we aren’t important and that we don’t matter”. UAW members that are still on the job are fighting for those on strike and are hoping for a quick resolution to the labor dispute.
The strike has had an impact on global automotive markets as well, with the price of US-built cars increasing and production levels dropping. Analysts believe that if the strike is settled and workers are back on the job this week, the industry will have time to make up for the lost production.
The UAW and GM have not spoken publicly on the strike yet, but the additional walkouts are a sign that the union is still seeking a sincere resolution to the labor dispute. Those on the picket lines are hopeful that their efforts will be successful in the end, and that workers will be treated with the respect they deserve.