Senator Bernie Sanders addressed striking United Auto Workers (UAW) workers in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, calling on automaker CEOs to “end their greed.”
The leftist senator’s remarks were made on Friday evening during the first day of the union’s “Stand Up” strike against General Motors, Stellantis and Ford.
“The fight you’re fighting here is not just about decent wages, good benefits and good working conditions in the automobile industry,” Sander said. “No. The fight you are fighting is a fight against the extreme levels of corporate greed and arrogance we see from CEOs who think they are entitled to have it all and can [not] care less about the needs of their employees.”
Sanders went on to fire General Motors CEO Mary Barra, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares and Ford CEO Jim Farley saying that they, “acted like bandits.”
“We refuse to live in an oligarchy,” Sanders said. “We refuse to accept a society where the few have so much and the many have so little.”
US Senator Bernie Sanders speaks to members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union during a rally in Detroit, Michigan.AFP via Getty Images
Sanders concluded his speech with a speech to the automaker’s leadership calling on them to negotiate a “fair” contract.
“I would like to say a word to the CEOs of General Motors, Ford and Stellantis. Understand, Chief Executive Officer, great financial sacrifices have been made by your employees over the years,” he said.
“It’s time for you to end your greed,” Sanders continued. “It is time for you to treat your employees with the respect and dignity they deserve. It is time to sit down and negotiate a fair contract.”
Chairman and CEO of General Motors Mary BarraREUTERS
Sanders continues to support the UAW’s push for a four-day work week, arguing that the introduction of artificial intelligence will soon increase the productivity of individual workers.
“I happen to believe that, as a country, we should begin a serious discussion – and the UAW is doing that – about significantly reducing the work week. People in America are depressed for a dozen different reasons,” Sanders said. “And that is one of the reasons why life expectancy in our country is actually declining. People were moved. They have to take care of their children. They have to worry about health care. They have to worry about housing. They are worried.”
Stellantis CEO Carlos TavaresGetty Images
“It seems to me that if new technology will make us a more productive society, benefits should be given to workers,” he said.
The main point of contention between the two sides is higher pay, with Fain saying the union is demanding a general pay rise of more than 40% for rank and file members over four years.
Full-time assembly plant workers at Ford and GM earn $32.32 an hour, while part-time workers currently make about $17 an hour. Full-time workers at Stellantis earn $31.77 an hour, and part-time workers earn nearly $16 an hour.
Jim Farley, CEO of FordGetty Images
The union has also pushed for making all temporary workers at the automaker permanent, cost-of-living adjustments, increased pension benefits for current retirees and restoring pensions for new hires, among other benefits.
After failing to reach an agreement Thursday night, workers began striking the GM plant in Wentzville, Missouri; a Stellantis plant in Toledo, Ohio; and a Ford plant in Wayne, Michigan. Plants not called to strike will operate without a contract, UAW President Shawn Fain said.
Megan Henney of FOX Business contributed to this report.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
