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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE UNITED AUTO WORKER (UAW) UNION IN THEIR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AND STRIKE
WHEREAS, On the 15th of September 2023, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union began a historic workers’ strike against the Big Three automobile companies in the United States - Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis; and
WHEREAS, The UAW is demanding that the Big Three eliminate the two-tier system for wages and benefits between newer and veteran employees, increase wages, restore the cost of living adjustment (COLA) metric, defined benefit pension for all workers, re-establish retiree medical benefits, right to strike over plant closures and a working family protection program that supports UAW members and their families in the event of one, end the abuse and over-reliance of temporary workers, more paid time off, and a significant increase in retiree pay; and
WHEREAS, The UAW stated that this labor strike is part of a larger effort for economic justice against the upper echelon of society, who have seen major financial gains the past couple of decades while working-class wages have stagnated; and
WHEREAS, The UAW is demanding a fairer share of the profits that auto workers generate, as executive pay has increased 40% during the life of the previous contract while worker pay has only increased by 6%; and
WHEREAS, UAW workers made large concessions during the 2007-2008 economic recession, which included the surrender of the COLA metric that left their wages vulnerable to inflation, to support the companies employing their members, and the current demands represent a long-overdue redressal of said concessions; and
WHEREAS, 4,600 workers with UAW Local 551 at the Chicago Ford Assembly plant at 12600 S. Torrence Avenue on the South Side of the City of Chicago in Cook County recently joined the strike. The plant produces the Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator SUV, and the Police Interceptor SUV - the nation’s top-selling police vehicle; and
WHEREAS, according to the Chicago UAW Local 551, many workers have taken on second and third jobs to make a livable wage, negatively affecting the whole community. The community relies on the workers, and everything they do is fed back to the local community; since they do not get paid a living wage, they find it difficult to support their small businesses.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and members of the Board of Commissioners, do hereby stand in solidarity with United Auto Workers in Cook County and across the country in their strike for a fair contract; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be sent to the UAW International Headquarters and to UAW Local 551.
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