UAW strike expands to include Arlington GM plant, targeting company's 'most profitable vehicles'

ARLINGTON, Texas - The United Auto Workers strike is showing no signs of slowing down and is now expanding in North Texas.

More than 5,000 workers at the General Motors Assembly Plant in Arlington were ordered to walk off the job at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning.

"No deal, no wheels," the workers chanted.

The plant makes the company's "most profitable vehicles", including the Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade.

UAW Local 276 President Keith Crowell says Arlington is a strong bargaining chip.

"We made over $22 billion last year for General Motors. This is General Motors' most lucrative plant," he said.

Many analysts have dubbed it the most profitable auto manufacturing plant in the world.

"We need the public involved in this too. I’m going to tell you why: This is not just for UAW workers. This is for the working class. Corporate greed has gone too far in America," said Crowell.

The UAW Local 276 political legislative chair, Pauline Mims, says they're rotating crews at 12 gates, 24 hours a day.

The move came just a few hours after GM reported its most recent third-quarter earnings and one day after the UAW hit its largest plant, the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, in Michigan.

On Monday morning, 6,800 union members walked out of the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant with Fain.

The announcement of the strike at the Arlington GM facility was so unexpected they say they have not had time to gather the number of picketers they would like.

"We got the information literally 10 minutes before they walked out the gate." Mims said.

GM's third-quarter adjusted profits topped $3 billion, down 7% from the same time last year.

"Another record quarter, another record year. As we've said for months: record profits equal record contracts," said UAW President Shawn Fain in a press release. "It’s time GM workers, and the whole working class, get their fair share."

GM's latest offer, which the company calls "historic" for pay increases, included a 25% compounded wage hike that increases over time. Workers would be able to make up to $84,000 per year.

Fain stressed the membership's mission with the so-called "stand up strikes."

"Our ability to hold out, to hit the company economically and the withhold our labor. This is out path to victory," Fain said.

46,000 UAW workers are now on strike.

That's about 32% of the union's 146,000 members.

"Time to pay up. We haven’t had a raise in 14 years," said Mike Janik.

"The rate of inflation has picked up, the CEOs are giving themselves huge raise increases and leaving us behind," said Crowell.

Employees in Arlington say they have been anxious.

"We've been so stressed out about this day not knowing what's going to happen and for how long. People are just on edge, and it happened today," a striking worker told FOX 4. "It's hitting our pocketbooks pretty good. And I hope we get a deal pretty soon."

The Arlington assembly spokesperson declined to comment on Tuesday, instead referring to GM's corporate statement.

Crowell says the picket line stretches farther than meets the eye.

"It’s easy sitting at home and say, ‘Oh, they’re on strike.’ No. You’re on strike too because what happens with the UAW is going to affect the working class across America," he said.

Last week, Fain said that negotiation progress was being made with Stellantis and GM.

"We are disappointed by the escalation of this unnecessary and irresponsible strike. It is harming our team members who are sacrificing their livelihoods and having negative ripple effects on our dealers, suppliers, and the communities that rely on us," the company said in a statement. "It is time for us to finish this process, get our team members back to work and get on with the business of making GM the company that will win and provide great jobs in the U.S. for our people for decades to come."

The UAW also called on members of two North Texas parts distribution facilities to join the strike last month.