The United Auto Workers (UAW) has expanded its strike once again, surprising everyone with a work stoppage at General Motors’ (GM) Arlington, Texas, plant.
With more than 5,000 workers walking off the job on Tuesday, the number of striking UAW members has now exceeded 45,000.
This move in Arlington comes shortly after UAW President Shawn Fain’s announcement that there would be no new strike expansions. However, he did mention the union’s strategy of surprise strikes, which started two weeks ago with a sudden work stoppage at Ford’s plant in Louisville, Kentucky.
Stellantis, an Italian-American conglomerate that owns Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge, RAM, Jeep, Peugeot, Citroën, and Alfa Romeo, also had its own surprise strike on Monday when thousands of workers at a Michigan plant joined their fellow members on the picket lines.
The UAW had initially planned to strike the Arlington plant weeks ago. However, GM’s significant concessions regarding union membership at their upcoming electric vehicle battery plants caused the union to pause.
Now, it seems that Mr. Fain is increasing the pressure. While the UAW acknowledges the significant progress made during negotiations with GM and other carmakers, they are demanding more.
SEE ALSO: UAW spreads strike at Michigan Stellantis plant
“We’ve got cards left to play,” said Mr. Fain. “And they’ve got money left to spend.”
