UAW to seek 'most audacious and ambitious' contract in decades, Fain says

DETROIT — The UAW plans to demand from the Detroit 3 what union President Shawn Fain called the "most audacious and ambitious" set of proposals in decades, including double-digit wage gains, restoration of pensions and better benefits for retirees.

In a Facebook Live on Tuesday evening, Fain shared with viewers what he called "the members' demands" — a list of 10 economic proposals that are officially being presented to bargainers at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis this week. In past years, Fain said, that process typically happened behind closed doors.

Those demands include:

• The elimination of tiers on wages and benefits;
• Substantial wage increases;
• Restoration of cost-of-living (COLA) adjustments;
• Defined benefit pensions for all workers;
• Re-establishment of retiree medical benefits;
• The right to strike over plant closures;
• A "working family protection program" that keeps union members employed in the event of a plant closure or financial downturn;
• An end to what the union called "abuse" of temporary workers;
• More paid time off; and
• Significant increases to retiree pay.

The union will also be seeking benefits and protections outside that formal list. While reading member questions on the Facebook Live, Fain said he planned to push the companies to move to a shortened 32-hour workweek.

"When I was elected, I said the UAW was back in the fight," Fain said. "That's what the Big 3 are going to see when we deliver our economic demands."

The union formally began bargaining with the Detroit 3 last month. Contracts expire Sept. 14.

Fain, on the livestream, presented charts showing the automakers' recently announced second-quarter earnings, followed by a chart that showed wage concessions made by the union since its contract in 2007, during the Great Recession.

"If the companies want to brag about record profits, then it's time for record contracts," Fain said. "It's time for them to deliver for our members, and we're going to deliver for our members, come hell or high water."

Fain on Tuesday also reiterated past comments that the union would not pick a traditional lead company to bargain with but would instead negotiate with all three simultaneously.

Stellantis response

Chrysler parent Stellantis, in a statement released Wednesday, said its team held a "very productive meeting" on Tuesday with Fain and his bargaining committee to walk through UAW members' demands.

"These demands are consistent with the priorities he has previously outlined, but we will continue to review them to understand how they align with our company proposals and where we can find common ground. Stellantis and the UAW have a shared interest in these negotiations: securing the future of our 43,000 employees and their families.

"We have been clear from the start that we are not seeking a concessionary agreement. As we have done for more than 70 years, we will work constructively and collaboratively with the UAW to find solutions that will result in a contract that is competitive in the global market, responsibly addresses employee concerns and meets the needs of our customers.”

The union could face an uphill battle on many of its demands.

The automakers are likely open to wage increases but are expected to balk at reinstituting cost-of-living adjustments and pensions, according to sources.

Fain has insisted the automakers can afford the union's demands, pointing to their collective $250 billion in profits over the past 10 years. The newly elected president has made a point of interacting with members on social media, such as on Tuesday's Facebook livestream, to get them on the same page heading into the potentially contentious talks.

"This isn't a time for fighting amongst ourselves or division," Fain said. "This is a time to be united for a common cause. We have to do it, and we're going to deliver."