STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (WXYZ) — The United Auto Workers union rallied Thursday in Sterling Heights demanding that Stellantis "keep the promise."
Members of Local 1264 are part of an effort to press Stellantis to enforce its contract. Stellantis has rejected that claim.
UAW leaders and workers walked from the local to Stellantis’ Sterling Stamping Plant.
The union is demanding Stellantis promise that the Dodge Durango will continue to be built in Detroit. They also want the plant in Belvidere, Illinois to be reopened.
Hundreds of workers have been laid off from Stellantis in recent months.
“We will not let Carlos Tavares continue to tear this company down. For decades, Stellantis management has been more than happy to sacrifice autoworker jobs, sacrifice our communities at the altar of cooperate greed,” UAW President Shawn Fain said at the rally.
After weeks of growing tension, the first United Auto Workers facility began holding strike votes Thursday against Stellantis.
That facility is a parts depot in California but more locals could soon hold strike votes of their own, with the potential for a nationwide strike against the company impacting thousands of employees.
“If it takes a fight, we’re willing to fight. If it takes a strike, we’re willing to strike,” Fain said. “I believe the management here is willing to meet and talk but unfortunately, the CEO across the ocean doesn't seem to have any concern.”
Stellantis workers like George Robinson say a strike may be necessary in light of job cuts across the company
“We went from three shifts to two shifts and there's talk about going down to one shift. That’s at our plant and other plants,” Robinson said.
As for Michell Dixon, she says she’s quite literally fighting for her job after it was temporarily cut.
“I was one of those people who just got laid off this prior weekend,” Dixon said. “Any type of layoff is very concerning because it’s the holidays coming around what type of season especially when you got things planned and things like that.”
After Wednesday’s rally, Stellantis accused Fain of spreading misinformation and contends the UAW cannot legally strike since the company’s decisions are based on market conditions and do not violate the contract. The coo of Stellantis North America said in a statement:
“It is in everyone’s best interest to have a healthy company that can compete in a global marketplace. This is a time for us to work together, not against each other.”
“We’re working with the company. We want the company to come to their senses and honor their commitments. If they do that, we won't have to. But we can’t sit back and wait. We're not going to sit back and wait,” Fain said.
While Fain ramps up pressure on the company and its COO, Tavares, UAW members, are ready to follow.
“This is America. We're going to fight all the way ‘til the end. That's what we do here in America. I don't know where he’s from — Italy or France — but in the us we fight,” Robinson said.
Fain said there is no timeframe on when other UAW locals could also begin holding strike authorization votes or what a strike could look like, but the process is now underway.
