DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – “I want to be crystal clear on one thing – the days of the UAW and Ford being a team to fight other companies are over, we won’t be used in this phony competition.” United Auto Worker President Shawn Fain said on a Facebook Live broadcast. “We will always and forever be on the side of working people everywhere; non-union auto workers are not the enemy, those are our future union family.” 

UAW President Shawn Fain announced to the auto union and Detroit Big Three Automakers that there would be no new strikes today, but told UAW members to stand ready for continued strikes. 

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Fain criticized the Big Three for proclaiming that they have proposed “record contracts.” 

“These are already record contracts, but they come at the end of decades of record decline,” he said, “So it’s not enough to be the best ever, when auto workers have gone backwards over the last two decades – that’s a very low bar.” 

He also called it a “pathetic irony” when the companies would come out with another “record offer.” 

“Every time they make an offer, it’s the best they can do – it’s a record offer,” said Fain, “And then two days later it’s a new record. What that should tell you is there is room to move.” 

At all three companies there is a 23% wage increase on the table.  Fain also called the removal of wage tiers a “major victory.” Ford has separated itself from the others with updated Cost of Living Allowances, and the other two are behind. 

The right to strike over plant closures has been a major part of negotiations according to Fain, adding that Temp workers are also a high priority and have been abused. 

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“We’re fighting to end the abuse of so-called temp workers who make low wages, have fewer rights, and little security.” he said, adding, “At all three we’re still negotiating a pathway for future temps to get converted to end the abuse of these members.” 

Earlier on Friday, General Motors presented its newest offer to UAW members including a “23% general wage increases representing a 25% compounded wage increase over life of agreement.”

“All GM U.S. UAW-represented team members will receive an immediate wage increase upon ratification of the proposed offer,” according to GM officials, “All active seniority employees have the opportunity to reach max wages by the end of the proposed contract.” 

On Monday, Ford Executive Chair Bill Ford delivered remarks calling for unity between UAW and the automotive industry. 

“The UAW leaders have called us the enemy in these negotiations, but I will never consider our employees as enemies,” said Ford. “This should not be Ford versus the UAW, it should be Ford and the UAW versus Toyota, Honda, Tesla, and all the Chinese companies that want to enter our home market.” 

Friday’s most recent UAW announcement comes on the heels of Fain’s previous announcement a week ago, reiterating that the strike announcements would not just be taking place on Fridays as before.