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FLINT – In a moving scene on Sunday morning, UAW workers passed picketing concierges, represented by the same union just hours after the maintenance workers' strike, in the escalation of already tense contract negotiations.
"This is not what solidarity looks like," said a car worker who left food to the janitor-concierges before reporting for his shift, which began just before 7 am.
The auto workers are employees of General Motors and the UAW told them to get to work Sunday, while the union's deal with GM expired at 11:59 pm. Saturday. Union leaders were scheduled to meet later in the morning in Detroit to decide next steps.
The janitors work for Aramark, with whom GM entrusts the maintenance of five plants located in Michigan and Ohio. About 850 Aramark workers, represented by the UAW, went on strike at midnight.
The car workers honked, delivered food and drink and cursed the situation while more than a dozen janitors were outside the factory, which made it very difficult. profitable Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. One of the auto workers seemed to be on the verge of tears while he was going to work.
"They separated us from GM," said Jon Lyttle, 36, of Flint, one of the janitors. "We are a union, everything should be done together, we are supposed to be brothers and sisters.
"I am happy with the union and the defense of my rights," he added. "I'm happy to be part of this piece of history."
Adrian "Sparty" Jones, 58, of Flint, said the auto workers were in a difficult situation while they were waiting for instructions. "We are the front line," she says. "They will join us."
Janitors, who have been working without a contract since March 2018, said they were paid $ 15-16 per hour. The UAW, in announcing the strike shortly after midnight, said the janitors' key concerned wages, health insurance ceilings, holidays and 401 (k) schemes.
When UAW negotiated with GM an automatic secondment contract, she informed Aramark last week that the contract extension for the janitors would end at the time of the expiry of the contract with GM.
More: Janitors at some GM plants, represented by the UAW, go on strike; The impact on automotive production is not clear
More: UAW and Detroit 3 are the biggest problems as the contract matures
While the union said on Saturday that auto workers would be running for shifts on Sunday, the janitors' strike was "a potentially important escalation," said Harley Shaiken, an expert on the job. University of California at Berkley, shortly after midnight.
At least one self-employed Flint Assembly worker stated that he would not cross the picket line of the janitors.
"In my opinion, crossing the picket line makes you a scab," said Sean Crawford. "I call to work and I join my brothers and sisters on the picket line."
Another worker who asked that her name not be used would go to work, but said, "I'm not happy right now. Aramark is in front of the picket. The union leaders said that we had to come here until we knew what was going on after the 10 o'clock meeting. For the moment, we are driving. "
Concierge Jobs
John Wineland, 31, of the Grand Blanc, said that the work of maintenance workers was dangerous because it gave the example of what it takes to clean the equipment that transports the trucks in the factory paint shop.
"If we are affected by water, we will have an infection," he said. The pressure of the water is such that it can literally cut you off.
"Blasting is a job for two people, one person explodes, another sits outside in a safe area to ask for help if something happens to cut the water. "
Carl Shehorn III, 40, of Burton, added, "We are fighting for our rights and future generations, we are underpaid, we are earning $ 15 an hour, we are maintaining their equipment, we are maintaining their robots and their conveyors, I am the fourth generation to work in this factory. "
The work of Aramark's employees is critical to the plant's operations, but GM said it has put contingency plans in place to avoid production disruptions.
Aramark manages maintenance work at five GM sites: Flint Assembly, Flint Engine Operations, Flint Metal Center; the Parma Metal Center, Ohio, and the Warren Technical Center.
Automatic interviews
Regarding the automatic work contract with GM, the UAW management told members on Saturday that "significant differences" persist on key issues and that negotiations would continue until the deadline .
In a letter sent to union leaders on Saturday night, Terry Dittes, vice president of UAW's General Motors department, said that the deal with GM would not be extended, but that no immediate strike by workers from the automobile was not envisaged.
"No decision or action will be taken" before a meeting of the National Council scheduled at 10 am in Detroit, said the letter.
In the letter obtained by the Free Press, Dittes reported "some progress" in the negotiations since it was last updated nine days ago.
But, "we still have many unresolved issues, including significant differences between the parties regarding wages, health care benefits, temporary employees, job security and benefit-sharing."
General Motors said in a statement: "We continue to work tirelessly to find solutions to very difficult problems. We are ready to negotiate around the clock because thousands of GM families and their communities, as well as thousands of others at our dealerships and suppliers, rely on us for their livelihood. "
The UAW, which represents nearly 150,000 hourly workers at GM, Ford and FCA, has chosen to negotiate a new contract with GM first. This agreement will serve as a model for further discussions of the UAW with the other two.
Local UAW leaders explained to members the procedure to follow if told to go on strike.
Corruption investigation
The discussions take place in the context of a federal corruption inquiry that is now affecting the highest levels of the union. The charges against regional director, Vance Pearson, involved UAW President Gary Jones and outgoing President Dennis Williams in the misuse of union funds.
The union negotiates a new contract with builders every four years. In 2015, the UAW chose to lead with FCA. If the UAW management believes that it must go on strike, the members of the three companies voted to authorize one.
Negotiations with GM progressed methodically. Both parties faced a lot of problems at the table.
The UAW Foundation wants a basic salary increase. They also seek to protect the benefits and reduce the wage gap between workers hired after 2007 and those who worked at GM before 2007. They also want to establish a plan for temporary employees to become permanent, among others.
But job security is also crucial, given GM's announcement in November 2018 that four US plants will be idle. The UAW pledged to spare no effort to obtain new products in these factories, including Lordstown Assembly in Ohio, Detroit-Hamtramck and the Warren and Baltimore transmission plants. Detroit-Hamtramck is the only one to continue its activities, but GM plans to close it in January.
For their part, GM and other automakers are seeking to control their costs in the face of trade and tariff uncertainties, unclear fuel efficiency standards and a predicted economic downturn that could weigh on sales. Health care costs are among the highest for car manufacturers and this is also a problem.
Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-222-6512 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid. Learn more about automobiles and sign up for our newsletter. Jamie LaReau contributed to this report.
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