UAW expands strike at Big Three, 34,000 on picket lines

Vol. 87/No. 40 - October 30, 2023
UAW Local 862 members on strike at Ford Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville Oct. 14. “Our priority is to protect jobs and workers’ livelihoods,” Local President Todd Dunn told the Militant.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Workers at the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant here, members of United Auto Workers Local 862, walked off the job Oct. 11, bringing the number of UAW workers on strike against the Big Three to over 34,000. They…


Support Memphis bakery workers strike over wages, safety and respect

Vol. 87/No. 40 - October 30, 2023
Cedric Wilson, right, president of BCTGM Local 390G on strike at International Flavors and Fragrances in Memphis,Tennessee, speaks at Oct. 18 rally outside IFF headquarters in New York. “We have union members with cancer, people with kids, some are losing their homes. But they’re all still in the fight,” he said. “There’s no other way, you have to fight.”

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — On the picket line at the International Flavors and Fragrances plant Oct. 11, strikers Darold Brooks, a mechanic, and Thad Beckman, a lead man, told this Militant  worker-correspondent about the horrendous safety record of the bosses here.…


LA hotel workers fight for contract

Vol. 87/No. 39 - October 23, 2023

LOS ANGELES — Some three dozen striking hotel workers, beating drums and plastic buckets and blowing on vuvuzelas, picketed the Westin hotel near the Los Angeles airport Oct. 7. They were protesting the latest contract offer from the bosses, an…


UAW members strike is a fight for the entire working class

Vol. 87/No. 39 - October 23, 2023
Chanting, “No deal? No wheels!” members of United Auto Workers Local 551 rallied at their union hall Oct. 7 in Chicago. The 4,600 workers at Ford there went on strike Sept. 29, bringing the total to 25,000 workers on strike against the Big Three auto companies in 21 states.

CHICAGO — Spirited chants of “UAW! UAW! UAW!” and “No deal? No wheels!” filled United Auto Workers Local 551’s Ford workers’ union hall here Oct. 7. Hundreds rallied to hear UAW President Shawn Fain and other speakers, part of the…


Kaiser hospital workers demand: ‘Hire more staff! Raise our pay!’

Vol. 87/No. 39 - October 23, 2023

LOS ANGELES — Over 75,000 Kaiser hospital workers carried out a three-day strike Oct. 4-6 in California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado. Kaiser workers in Virginia and the District of Columbia went out for one day. The central issues are the…


Stand with UAW strikers! A fight for the working class

25,000 autoworkers out on strike at Ford, GM, Stellantis
Vol. 87/No. 38 - October 16, 2023
United Auto Workers members and supporters on picket line in Roanoke, Texas, Oct. 2. Autoworkers are fighting against two tiers, family-busting schedules and unlivable wages.

CHICAGO — “We’re glad to join the strike,” Courtney O’Barski, a member of United Auto Workers Local 551, picketing Ford’s assembly plant here Sept. 30, told the Militant. “Inflation is killing us. Retirees need health insurance coverage.”  The day before,…


UAW, BCTGM strikers back each other up in Tennessee

Vol. 87/No. 38 - October 16, 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The nearly 200 members of United Auto Workers Local 2406 at the General Motors ACDelco Parts Distribution Center here walked off the job Sept. 22, joining thousands of other autoworkers on strike against the Big Three. Local…


100,000 Quebec public workers fight gov’t attack

Vol. 87/No. 38 - October 16, 2023

MONTREAL — Tens of thousands of public workers — 100,000 according to organizers — demonstrated in Montreal Sept. 23 to back up their demands and win support as negotiations with the Quebec government got underway.  The majority were health and…


Hundreds of chemical workers strike in Illinois

Vol. 87/No. 38 - October 16, 2023
Hundreds of chemical workers strike in Illinois

BRADLEY, Ill. — More than 700 members of International Chemical Workers Union Council Local 498C went on strike here against CSL Behring Sept. 27. The multinational company produces medication for those with immune deficiencies and bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia.…


Calif. Amazon truck drivers fight for safe conditions, higher pay

Vol. 87/No. 38 - October 16, 2023
Picket line at Kaiser Permanente hospital in Los Angeles Oct. 4. A coalition of unions representing over 75,000 health care workers at Kaiser facilities nationwide are on a three-day strike for a new contract, fighting to end short staffing that cripples patient care and workers’ lives.

TORRANCE, Calif. — “Amazon hides behind its subcontractors, tries to duck responsibility for providing safe working conditions and decent pay,” Jessie Moreno told the Militant. He was part of a picket of 40 organized by Teamsters Local 396 outside Amazon’s…