UAW President Shawn Fain Announces that Stand Up Strike Will Expand at Noon on Friday if Big Three Fail to Make Substantial Progress in Negotiations by the Deadline

DETROIT – In a video posted on the UAW’s social media sites, President Shawn Fain announced a new strike deadline of this Friday, Sept. 22 at noon. If Ford, General Motors or Stellantis have not made substantial progress toward a fair agreement, the UAW will call on more members to join the Stand Up Strike.

The video can be viewed at the UAW’s Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=347197507661352 page and YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvhmqJgXOf0 and the media is invited to download and share it.

Ford, General Motors and Stellantis all took more than a month to respond to the UAW’s Members’ Demands and failed to put fair contract offers on the table. When the car companies’ contracts expired on Sept. 14, the UAW launched a Stand Up Strike and for the first time ever struck all of the Big Three at once.

The Stand Up Strike is a new approach to striking. Instead of striking all plants all at once, select locals have been called on to “Stand Up” and walk out on strike. If the automakers fail to make progress in negotiations and bargain in good faith going forward, more locals will be called on to Stand Up and join the strike.

The following is an excerpt from Fain’s remarks:

“We’ve been available 24/7 to bargain a deal that recognizes our members sacrifices and contributions to these record profits. Still the Big Three failed to get down to business.  

That’s why, last week, our brave union family at Wentzville Assembly, Toledo Assembly, and final assembly and paint departments at Michigan Assembly were called on to Stand Up and go out on strike. And that’s exactly what they did.  

Just as importantly, all the rest of you stayed on the job. That is the only way this strategy works. We’re going to keep hitting the company where we need to, when we need to. And we’re not going to keep waiting around forever while they drag this out. 

I have been clear with the Big Three every step of the way. And I’m going to be crystal clear again right now. If we don’t make serious progress by noon on Friday, September 22nd, more locals will be called on to Stand Up and join the strike. That will mark more than a week since our first members walked out. And that will mark more than a week of the Big Three failing to make progress in negotiations toward reaching a deal that does right by our members. 

Autoworkers have waited long enough to make things right at the Big Three. We’re not waiting around, and we’re not messing around. So, noon on Friday, September 22nd is a new deadline. 

Either the Big Three get down to business and work with us to make progress in negotiations or more locals will be called on to Stand Up and go out on strike.

Between now and then, UAW members will keep organizing actions. Those on strike will remain on strike. And those on the job will keep monitoring for unilateral changes made by management, which are NOT allowed under an expired contract. 

Keep organizing rallies. Keep organizing red shirt days. Keep up the energy and keep showing the companies that you are ready to join the strike if necessary. 

This is our generation’s defining moment. 

So be ready to Stand Up.”

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