Detroit Evening Report: UAW President Shawn Fain notes ‘serious movement’ during contract negotiations with GM, Stellantis

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain provided an update Friday afternoon on the union’s ongoing contract negotiations with Detroit’s Big Three automakers, Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Stellantis.

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In his weekly livestream update, Fain said there has been “serious movement” from both General Motors and Stellantis in the past 24 hours, with GM putting an offer on the table just hours before his speech that would provide its hourly employees with a 23% general wage increase, cost of living adjustments, and a faster way for workers to reach the top wage levels — but not an end to wage tiers.

Fain said UAW members and leadership are ready to wait for the best possible offer.

“The bottom line is, we’ve got cards left to play, and they’ve got money left to spend,” he said on Friday. “If we stand together, if we have faith, we will win not just a good contract, not just a record contract, but a contract that turns the tide. A contract that finally, finally starts to make things right at the Big Three and for autoworkers everywhere.”

While Fain did not announce any new labor actions against the Big Three, he did reiterate the importance of staying ready to expand the strike at any moment.

“Our cause is just, the money is there, and our strategy is working,” said Fain. “Time is on our side, the American public is on our side, and the facts are on our side. So be ready, and stay ready to stand up.”

Today is the 36th day of the strike, affecting roughly 34,000 workers at 44 auto facilities nationwide who are only making $500-per-week in strike pay while they remain off the job.

Russ McNamara contributed to this report.

Other headlines for Friday, Oct. 20, 2023:

• The Michigan Economic Development Corporation on Monday announced a major investment in state-of-the-art training programs at multiple higher education institutions throughout the state, in response to Michigan’s increased demand for skilled technicians and engineering professionals in the semiconductor industry.
• Michigan Central and Newlab launched a new fellowship program this week to support underrepresented communities in Detroit’s tech ecosystem.
• Detroit native Diamond Conley has been named the new executive director of the City’s Office of Eviction Defense.
• The University of Michigan and Michigan State University will face off in a college football rivalry Saturday night in East Lansing.
• The Detroit Red Wings visit the Ottawa Senators after Alex DeBrincat scored two goals in the Red Wings’ 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• The Detroit Pistons beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma City last night 118-116, and will be back in action against the Dallas Mavericks in Texas tonight at 8 p.m.
• The Detroit Lions play in Baltimore this weekend with a 1 p.m. kick-off. The Lions are one of five teams in a tie for the NFL’s best record at 5-1.

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