UAW prepared to call for strike expansion at ‘any time,’ president says

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union is “prepared at any time” to call for an expansion to its strike against the Big Three automakers, UAW President Shawn Fain said on Friday.

“We’re entering a new phase of this fight, and it demands a new approach,” Fain said in livestreamed remarks.

“We’re done waiting until Fridays to escalate our strike. Today, we’re not announcing an expansion of our strike, but we are prepared at any time to call on more locals to stand up and walk out.”

Fain’s remarks come after another 8,700 workers walked out at a Ford truck plant in Kentucky on Wednesday, bringing the total number of union members on strike to nearly 34,000.

The union said Ford had refused to negotiate further demands on wages, leading to the surprise strike at the company’s largest and most profitable facility.

“We’re not messing around, and negotiation requires both sides making movement,” Fain said, noting that the Kentucky plant generates $48,000 in revenue per minute for Ford.

“If they’re not ready to move, then we’re going to give them a push in a language they understand — dollars and cents.”

The UAW strike is approaching its second month. The union’s contract with the Big Three automakers — Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors — expired Sept. 14.

Updated at 10:59 am