DETROIT, MI (MPRN)— United Auto Workers vote this week on whether to authorize a strike if the union cannot reach a new deal with Detroit’s Big Three automakers.
The union held a massive rally Sunday in Warren. Hundreds of UAW members and several Michigan members of Congress attended.
The union wants increased wages, shorter work hours and better pension benefits, among other demands. Automakers call that unrealistic.
But union member Jaron Garza says the Big Three are making big profits now because workers took cuts to keep them afloat.
“Half of the stuff we’re asking for is stuff that we conceded to keep all three of these companies alive during bankruptcy. So, I’m voting to strike… if we have to. It’s scary, but they ain’t gonna give it to us. We gotta fight for it.”
A recent study suggests even a short strike could cost both the U.S. and Michigan economies billions of dollars.