Historic Victory for Workers

In a groundbreaking development that’s shaking up the auto industry, United Auto Workers (UAW) members at Stellantis, the corporate giant owning Chrysler, have overwhelmingly ratified a new labor contract. 

This marks a significant triumph for worker rights, ending a series of targeted strikes and ushering in a new era of labor relations.

The ratification, which follows on the heels of a similar deal with General Motors, signals a massive win for the workers, with at least 25% wage increases across the board. 

The deal, which includes the revival of an Illinois plant that had been indefinitely idled, is being hailed as a historical milestone.

Preliminary results indicate a resounding victory for the UAW, with 68.4% of over 26,000 Stellantis hourly workers voting in favor of the contract. 

This overwhelming support, despite notable opposition at Jeep plants in Toledo, Ohio, underscores the workers’ demand for fair compensation and better working conditions.

The ratification at Stellantis, coupled with ongoing voting at Ford Motor, marks a remarkable shift in the UAW’s bargaining tactics. 

Breaking from the traditional approach of negotiating with each automaker individually, the union initiated simultaneous negotiations with all three automakers, a bold strategy that paid off handsomely.

This aggressive and strategic approach led to roughly six weeks of targeted strikes, a move that kept the automakers on their toes and heightened pressure for a favorable deal. 

At its peak, the work stoppages affected approximately 40% of the 146,000 UAW members under the agreements, either through strikes or layoffs due to disruptions.

The new contracts are not just about wage hikes; they represent a broader inclusion of workers, such as those in battery plants, who were previously excluded. 

The exact number of UAW members covered under these new deals is yet to be determined but is expected to be substantial.

For UAW President Shawn Fain, these deals are more than just economic wins; they secure future jobs for union ranks and serve as a launching pad for organizing efforts at other non-union automakers in the U.S. 

The union’s achievements in these negotiations are valued at more than four times the gains from the 2019 contract, offering more in base wage increases than workers have received in the past two decades.

While the automakers and investors brace themselves for increased labor costs, the historic contracts represent a significant shift in the balance of power between workers and corporate giants. 

The UAW’s success in these negotiations is not just a win for Stellantis workers but a beacon of hope for labor movements across the nation.