Calling them 'disgusting and illegal' UAW president Shawn Fain ticked off a list of alleged union-busting activities by three foreign automakers in live webcast Monday night.
Calling them “disgusting and illegal” UAW president Shawn Fain ticked off a list of alleged union-busting activities by three foreign automakers in live webcast Monday night. Based on those accusations, the union filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of workers at auto plants operated by Honda in Indiana, Hyundai in Alabama, and Volkswagen in Tennessee.
The move comes as the UAW attempts to organize workers at non-union auto plants in the U.S. in the aftermath of winning pay raises and other benefits for its members at the Detroit Three automakers after a series of strikes over 46 days earlier this fall.
Fain used the webcast to announce the complaints while running down efforts by workers at U.S. plants operated by foreign automakers to join the union and making the case to convince those not yet committed to do so.
“Our stand up strike gave them hope,” said Fain. “What we've seen in the outpouring of interest and support among non union auto workers is that victory is contagious.”
As an example he pointed out that in the past week more than 1,000 workers at Volkswagen's plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. signed union authorization cards and workers at other foreign automakers' plants were anxious to organize as well.
But in its complaint with the NLRB, the UAW is accusing Volkswagen, Honda and Hyundai with attempting to thwart organization efforts with actions that include confiscating pro-union hand-outs, threatening disciplinary write-ups for displaying pro-union stickers on their helmets and destroying pro-union leaflets.
After new, lucrative contracts were ratified by UAW workers General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis, some foreign automakers sought to fight off any notion of their workers joining the union with pay raises he characterized at “pocket change.”
Specifically he called out the 9% raise and shortening of progression to reach full pay at Toyota, 11% percent raise at Honda, 6% at Volkswagen and 25% over four years at Hyundai.
He derided those actions as the “carrot” in a carrot and stick strategy.
“So now the companies are bringing out the stick,” he said. “Like corporations everywhere no matter what they tell you these companies are more than willing to break the law. If it means protecting their bottom line from the workers. They'll lie, cheat, steal, they'll intimidate them. They'll surveil people, and they'll coerce and then on the other side of their mouth, they'll tell you we're a family.”
If the UAW is successful in organizing all the plants run by foreign automakers it would stand to add thousands of workers to its overall membership of just over 300,000. Of those about 150,000 are auto workers.
He called it the 30-50-70 strategy.
When 30% of workers at plant sign union authorization cards the effort would be publicized. At 50% Fain said he'd join workers at a rally in their town. If 70% signed cards and an organizing committee was established, Fain said the union would demand the company either recognize UAW representation or accept the results of a vote.
He promised to replicate the stand up strike strategy the union successfully used in its negotiations with GM, Ford and Stellantis.
“No single company is going to be the target. They're all the targets,” Fain said. “And just like our stand up strike, they won't know what's coming next.”
This article was written by Ed Garsten from Forbes and was legally licensed through the DiveMarketplace by Industry Dive. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.