Roanoke parts center included in next round of UAW strikes, Arlington GM plant not yet affected
ARLINGTON, Texas - An unprecedented strike against three automakers, which had a small-scale launch, expanded on Friday. More members of the United Auto Workers walked off the job.
More than 100 workers at GM’s Fort Worth parts distribution center in Roanoke are part of 5,600 workers across the country joining the limited strike Friday.
That’s in addition to 13,000 workers who walked out of assembly plants last week.
That’s a deliberate strategy by the union. It will gradually turn up the pressure on the companies by expanding the strike in phases if the union deems it necessary.
The UAW leadership said more locations are going on strike since there isn’t serious progress on a deal.
The General Motors Assembly Plant in Arlington is not one of those 38 locations. A parts distribution center in Roanoke, near Fort Worth, is on the list.
Workers already picketing elsewhere insist they simply want the companies to compensate them for helping the big three through tough financial times.
UAW strike: Where negotiations stand between union and Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis
On Friday, the autoworkers union president greatly expanded the scope of its strike against General Motors and Stellantis after it said negotiations with the two automakers had not seen serious progress.
"This is not about us losing our jobs. This is about us getting better benefits from our company who make a lot of money on our backs," said Stephanie Leapheart, a striking UAW member.
"We are willing to make the sacrifice whatever it takes. They know we gave up a lot so send something back. That's all we're asking for. Equal, equality that's what we're looking for," added Peter Kayal.
Vicky Taylor is one of approximately 125 workers at the North Texas facility who officially went on strike at 11 a.m. North Texas time.
"I’ve worked 10 years without a raise. In 2019 when they gave us a raise, it was 83 cents," she said.
The move was at the direction of UAW National President Shawn Fain, who made the announcement on Facebook Live to union members working at 38 locations across nine states.
"At noon eastern today, all parts distribution centers at GM and Stelanis will be on strike," he announced.
That included dozens more at another North Texas Stellantis parts distribution center located in Carrollton.
"We service the dealerships. So every time your car goes in the shop, they call the warehouse. We service the parts, transmissions, whatever it may be," said UAW Local 816 Chairman Adam Martinez.
The 5,600 additional workers nationwide joined the strike on top of the 13,000 of the 146,000 members that began the strike one week ago.
UAW strike update: These plants are joining the picket line Friday
After General Motors and Stellantis failed to make sufficient progress with the UAW, the union called on all the automakers' parts distribution facilities to strike. This includes 38 facilities across 20 states.
Friday's call to action did not include the massive GM plant in Arlington.
The union is seeking pay raises of 36% over four years, an end to lower pay scales for new workers and a 32-hour work week for 40 hours of pay.
All-in-all, 13% of the union’s 146,000 members are now on the picket lines demanding big raises and better benefits.
The Big 3 U.S. automakers say they can't afford the union's demands despite huge profits because they need to invest in the transformation to electric vehicles.
"We got 6% pay increases. CEOs got 40% pay increases. Meanwhile, the companies have made billions and billions in profit," Fains said. "So the consumers are being price gouged by these companies. It has nothing to do with what we’re doing now."
The UAW president says it’s not ordering additional Ford workers to strike this week because Ford has met some demands.
SMU economics professor Mike Davis says the outlook is unclear.
"It’s a good sign for the workers, but we don’t know how much of a good sign it is," he said.
Friday’s additions to the work stoppage include 38 parts distribution centers of GM and Stellantis.
GM’s facility in Roanoke and a Stellantis facility in Carrollton are the only two in Texas.
"The fact that they’re escalating this strike though makes one a little pessimistic that they’re making a lot of progress," Davis said.
Davis says while parts distribution centers have fewer employees, they’re important.
"But if your car breaks down and you’ve got to get to work and the parts to get your car back on the road aren’t there, that’s going to hurt a lot," he said.
For now, GM’s Arlington assembly is not called upon to strike. So it’s 5,000+ employees who produce GM’s full-size SUVs continue to work.
UAW members in Roanoke say they're determined to ride it out despite now only getting paid $500 per week through the union's strike fund.
Because of the ripple effect of the walkouts already taking place, the big three have announced layoffs at other plants due to parts shortages resulting from disruptions in the supply chain.