Across the labor movement, activists are closely following the auto workers strike. To help in this process, we will be publishing frequent updates on this site. The purpose of this article is to explain where things stand as of Sunday, October 1.
Two important plants come onto the field
Without doubt, the biggest recent event was the September 29 decision to further escalate the strike by bringing out UAW Local 551, at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant, and Locals 602 and 652 at the Lansing, Michigan, Delta Township Assembly Plant. There are about 4,600 workers at the Chicago factory and about 2,400 at the Lansing plant. These 7,000 bring the total number of strikers to about 25,000. This is roughly 17% of the UAW’s total automobile membership.
The Chicago plant produces the Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUV. However, its best known vehicle is certainly the Police Interceptor. The Lansing facility makes the Buick Enclave and Chevy Traverse. These are popular, well-known vehicles and bringing out these plants represents a real escalation of the strike.
Local 551 is not just any local. It has a long history of solidarity with other workers in struggle. Its members are frequently on Chicago picket lines. It has an excellent system of membership education and development. It was meticulously prepared for the possibility of being called out on strike as part of the Stand Up escalating strike strategy. The large, predominantly African American factory is an important part of the Chicago scene. It wasn’t surprising, therefore, that the walkout dominated the local news on the evening of the 29th.
At the bargaining table
UAW President Shawn Fain has started a pattern of regular Friday morning webcasts where he explains where negotiations stand and the plans for the coming week. This week he reported that some progress had been made at Stellantis. Fain reported progress on the Cost of Living Agreement, the right to honor picket lines, the right to strike for the continuing manufacture of products and against plant closures, and finally on some moratoriums on outsourcing. For this reason, the September 29 escalation was only against Ford and GM, not Stellantis.
The strike has not yet lasted long enough to affect the number of vehicles on new car dealer’s lots. The dealers have sufficient inventory for the time being. This situation will obviously not last forever.
The most acute impact of the strike will be on parts for repairs. Thirty eight GM and Stellantis MOPAR or plant distribution centers are on strike. Repair shops generally rely on same or next day delivery of needed parts and will therefore feel the pinch very quickly.
The automobile industry is a highly integrated industry, very dependent on supply lines. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the strike has begun to have run-on effects. Some plants have had to idle, leading to lay-offs. There have been lay-offs at the GM Fairfax, Kansas, plant, Eagle Industries (a parts supplier),and at the GM Parma Metal Center in Ohio.
On the picket line
The situation on the picket lines is somewhat different from most strikes. In recent years, with some exceptions such as the Alabama coal miners, most American industrial picket lines have been generally symbolic with little drama. This strike is somewhat different. President Shawn Fain had to call attention to this in his Friday broadcast. There have been a number of incidents of violence against the pickets. For example, a car hit picketers in Swartz Creek, outside of Flint. Scabs drew guns on strikers in California.
An incident on a September 22 Stellantis picket in Center Line, Michigan, happened to be caught on camera by a TV news helicopter. It is certainly one of the most inept examples of military strategy in history! A white driver first yells racist slurs and gets out of his car to start a physical fight with the large group of predominantly African American picketers. How he thought he would win the fight is a mystery. The idiot had to be saved from serious injury by picket captains and was escorted back to his car. His female companion then gets out of the car and attempts a second round against a sizable group of union members. The results were predictable. This has to count as the most unsuccessful attack on a picket line ever.
The mood of the strikers continues to be high. Chanting is frequent. There is constant honking by passing trucks and cars. The picket lines are well organized with captains, food and water tents, and all the other necessary supplies. Members of other unions are greeted warmly. Strikers are well briefed on the major objectives of the union at the bargaining table. The union’s escalating Stand UP strike strategy seems to be popular.
Biden’s visit to Detroit
Probably the most publicized event in the strike this week was President Biden’s visit to the Detroit picket line. On September 26, Biden briefly appeared at the picket at a GM facility in Van Buren Township, Michigan. Wearing a UAW cap, he spoke through a hand held megaphone to the picketers. His speech focused on his support of their battle for higher wages. In reality, Biden’s appearance was really a photo-op, not participating in a strike rally or active picket line.
This visit has been the subject of a great deal of media attention and discussion. It has been described as the “historic” first ever visit of a president to a strike picket. The visit is more important as an example of Biden’s political positioning than it is as an event that will influence the course of the strike. Biden wished to present himself as blue collar “Scranton Joe” in an attempt to win over parts of Trump’s working class base in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election. The trip to the picket had everything to do with political image building.
The visit has helped the UAW gain some more media coverage. It probably encouraged UAW members who are supporters of the President. But, all in all, it won’t have much of an effect on the overall course of the strike. The calmer heads at the Big Three will see it as political theater and not panic.
To conclude, the strike continues to gain momentum and workers’ morale remains high. There has been some progress at the bargaining table, but a lot of issues remain to be resolved. The first effects of the strike in the rest of the industry and in parts supplies are beginning to be felt. This is where the biggest working class struggle in this country stands today.
Adam Shils
Adam Shils is a member of the International Socialism Project in Chicago.
