The United Auto Workers (UAW) are currently on strike, demanding several key changes in their contracts with automakers. The main demands of the UAW workers include:
- Wage increases : The UAW is seeking a 36% pay increase over four years, pointing to the recent profits made by the automakers
- End to tiered wages : The union wants an end to varying tiers of wages for factory jobs and a 32-hour workweek with 40 hours of pay
- Restoration of traditional defined-benefit pensions : UAW workers hired after 2007 do not receive defined-benefit pensions, and the union is demanding the restoration of these benefits
- Healthcare benefits : The UAW wants healthcare benefits for all retired members, as workers hired before 2007 still have these benefits, while those hired since have not
- Union representation at new electric battery plants : The union wants to ensure that workers at new electric battery plants are represented by the UAW
The UAW's demands are driven by factors such as the success of other unions in obtaining similar increases, the need for cost-of-living adjustments, and the desire for a more equitable distribution of wages and benefits among workers
. The strike has been ongoing, with the UAW making new demands and escalating its actions to pressure the automakers into meeting its requirements
