Senior US government officials are mediating negotiations between the auto workers union and large manufacturers to try to reach an agreement and avoid new strikes.
Last Friday, strikes began at three factories in Missouri, Michigan and Ohio.
CNN sources explained that the acting Secretary of Labor, Julie Su, and a senior White House official, Gene Sperling, are already working with the parties to resume negotiations.
“As the president (Joe Biden) says, we believe in collective bargaining, including the right to strike, and this process only works if the parties negotiate an agreement themselves,” explained the source cited by CNN.
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union called a strike at all Ford, General Motors and Stellantis factories.
It is the first time in the history of the sector that a strike has been called at the same time in the factories of the three main automobile companies.
Union meetings were held today with Ford and a meeting with General Motors is also planned, according to two sources familiar with the negotiations. On Monday there may be a meeting with Stellantis.
The union does not rule out the possibility of continuing with the strikes.
“We are prepared to do what we have to do. We are tired of being left behind. There are no excuses. These companies have earned 250 million dollars in the last ten years, 21 billion in the last six months alone. and salaries and conditions for our workers have worsened,” UAW President Shawn Fain said today in statements to CBS.
When asked about his formal support for Joe Biden’s re-election, Fain warned that “it has to be earned.”
“We want actions, not words. Who is president now, who was before or who will be next is not enough to win this fight,” he argued.
Also today, House Democratic Party Chairman Hakeem Jeffries supported striking workers in Wayne, Michigan, highlighting the workers’ “just” and “necessary” fight.
Source: TSF
