WAYNE, Mich. – In years past, negotiations between the UAW and the Detroit big three have always started with a symbolic handshake. This year, union leaders are doing away with the tradition as they get down to business on high-stakes contract talks.
The high-stakes contract talks mean all bets regarding the more recent UAW approach are off. But it’s decidedly old school to go into national contract talks making no bones about the preparedness for a strike.
UAW President Shawn Fain did exactly that.
“I hear some of the CEOs talk about our workers are like family, and that’s nothing but a lie,” said Fain. “I mean, I don’t know how they treat their families, I know how I treat my family, and I don’t treat my family that way; I love my family!”
Fain is ready to take his membership out on strike, forgoing the traditional handshake former president Gary Jones shook hands. Dennis Williams hugged Sergio Marchionne.
Both Jones and Williams went to federal prison, making way for Fain’s new firebreathing caucus.
Fain’s answer to the traditional handshake meant going out to three domestic plants around Metro Detroit and shaking line workers’ hands.
“What they’ve done with our workers over the years, we’d shake hands when they give our workers a fair share when our workers have economic justice, then we’ll shake hands, but until then, there is no point in having some pomp and circumstance and some big ceremony acting like we’re working together when we’re not,” Fain said.
This new militant attitude appeared to wear well with the line workers Local 4 spoke with.
“To be honest with you, I’m ready to strike as the company making millions and millions of dollars, and we need a piece of that pie to keep us happy,” said Morris White of UAW Local 22 Factory Zero.
So far, the companies have put out statements saying they are looking forward to working with the UAW to get a national contract.
On Thursday (July 13), it’s Stellantis, General Motors on Friday, and Ford Tuesday.