BY: MAXWELL SCHUSS
The UAW and middle-class workers around the country are looking to eliminate wage tiers, a compensation system which they say reduces pay, healthcare, and other benefits. They are also fighting for the reinstatement of cost-of-living adjustments, allowing wages to match the inflation in housing and food.
“Cars aren’t made by the multi-billionaires, they are made by people like you and I,” said Jeff Purcell, president of UAW Local 3039 in Rockland County. Purcell addressed the crowd as other members of the UAW congregated on the southeast corner of Central Park, right outside the General Motors Building. New Yorkers joined the picket line in solidarity, holding signs reading; “End tiers! Equal pay for equal work” and “No contract? No peace!”
“They want us to buy American? Well, pay American workers with the dignity and respect that they deserve,” said Purcell. As auto corporations such as General Motors, Stellantis, and the Ford Motor Company are currently making record profits, workers nationwide have left the assembly lines and joined the picket lines.
Jamaal Bowman, representative for New York’s 16th congressional district, shared his support for the union on X (formerly Twitter). “The Big Three auto companies have already raked in $20 billion in profits this year. Their CEOs make millions. They can afford to pay their employees a living wage,” said Bowman. The UAW is also looking to establish profit-sharing, a 32-hour work week, a 30% raise over the next 4 and a half years, and improve retirement for workers.
“This is about essential workers taking power and no longer taking the crumbs the big corporations want to offer us,” said Purcell.
The union promises they will continue to strike until a deal is met with The Big Three for a fair share of the profits. According to UAW President Shawn Fain, a deal with the Ford Motor Company is nearing agreement, but not as close to an arrangement with Stellantis and General Motors. In a September 27th story from Spectrum News 1, Stellantis stated that they are looking forward to bargaining “in good faith” and would like to reach an agreement with the union that will both protect the ability to provide good jobs and conserve the competitiveness of the company.