UAW President Shawn Fain readies membership for 'war' against corporations

DETROIT — UAW President Shawn Fain struck a defiant tone in his inaugural address to members on the first day of the union's special bargaining convention, laying the groundwork for potentially contentious contract talks with the Detroit 3 automakers this year.

"We're here to come together to ready ourselves for the war against the one and only true enemy: multibillion dollar corporations and employers who refuse to give our members their fair share," Fain said to members. "It's a new day in the UAW."

Fain was sworn in as the UAW's fifth president in five years a day before the convention opened following a prolonged, contentious election.

He defeated incumbent President Ray Curry by fewer than 500 votes. As the count neared an end, Curry filed a protest alleging widespread disenfranchisement.

Fain has promised a more aggressive approach to bargaining with the Detroit 3 this fall. The union is expected to fight for better wages and benefits as well as more job commitments.

During his speech Monday, Fain quoted Martin Luther King Jr. and said the union is stronger than ever.

"We have the discipline we need to organize better than ever before," Fain said. "We have the understanding we need to regain the trust of the membership. We have the organization that, if united in a common goal, we cannot be defeated. We have the will to sacrifice for the greater good, including on the picket line."

Fain said the UAW planned to fight to gain what it lost during the Great Recession, when the automakers asked for concessions to remain afloat financially.

"Our members have very high expectations, and rightfully so," Fain said. "They demanded equality of sacrifice from us. Today we demand equality of gains for our membership."

Canadian leader speaks

Unifor President Lana Payne, Fain's counterpart in Canada, also spoke on the opening day of the convention. For the first time in decades, Unifor and the UAW will be attempting to win investments from the Detroit 3 at the same time with both unions’ contracts expiring later this year.

Unifor was created in 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers union merged with other major Canadian unions. The CAW originally separated from the UAW in 1985 and bargained with the Detroit 3 separately ever since.

Payne, who focused her speech on the commonalities between the two unions, said the UAW and Unifor could both find success in upcoming talks -- the first time they've negotiated primary contracts with Detroit in the same year since 1999.

“This timing creates a unique opportunity for auto workers on both sides of the border,” she said. “We have a moment here to develop our unions and our bargaining strategies in ways that are both big and bold.”

She said Unifor would be bringing up wages, pensions, health and safety benefits and clarity on product plans “whether the companies want to or not.”

Fain, following Payne’s speech, reiterated her stance that the two would work together.

“These are global corporations and they are unified in defeating us and hurting us, so we have to come together,” he said. “I look forward to what the future holds with us working together.”

'Lot of product to go around'

Speaking to journalists after the convention adjourned Monday, Fain said he didn’t foresee challenges with both unions negotiating at the same time.

“I don’t worry about competing over product with Unifor,” Fain said. “I believe there’s a lot of product to go around, especially with the expansion of EV and different things going on right now. We have to work together and be on the same page so we’re not allowing ourselves to be whipsawed by the companies.”

Fain said his top priorities this fall are job security and eliminating tiers that pay workers different rates depending on when they were hired.

“We’re in the best of times for these companies and they’re still idling and closing plants,” Fain said. “That’s a problem.”

He said the union would use whatever tools necessary during the talks, including a strike, and did not rule out changing the length of the next contract from the usual four-year deal.

“I’m not married to any philosophy when it comes to bargaining. I think we have to listen to the membership,” Fain said. “I think we have to listen more to our members and deliver on their demands, whether it’s a three-year contract, one-year contract or a six-year contract.”