This resolution was passed at the October 2024 Annual Membership Meeting via Zoom on October 13, 2024.
Resolution: UAWD Strike and Political Perspectives
Submitted by Ron Lare, member of UAW Local 600, retired
— WHEREAS: UAWD should learn from the UAW‘s militant past and build on its 2023 activism.
— WHEREAS: Regarding point 8 in this resolution, the Labor Party proposal in the UAW dates to the 1936 UAW Convention. In 1996 a short-lived Labor Party was founded. It was supported by several unions including Oil Chemical and Atomic Workers; United Electrical workers; West Coast longshore (ILWU); the California Nurses Association (CNA); and other unions.
— THEREFORE:
1– UAWD builds UAW-wide and community support for the national and local strikeable Stellantis grievances, as well as support for the strikeable grievances or local contract or Unfair Labor Practice strikes of any other UAW local. We will re-constitute our 2023 flying squadrons. UAWD proposes that all UAW locals prepare now for such situations by each democratically adopting the slogan, “Strike ready!”
2– UAWD should focus much more on power in the locals than on the International Executive Board.
3– UAWD supports the transition to electric and mass transportation vehicles under union control.
4– UAWD is committed to increasing diversity in its membership and its leadership, with the goal of looking like the UAW membership.
5– UAWD includes restoration of pensions and retiree health care as essential to defining “No Tiers” in Auto.
6– To provide more jobs and work life balance, UAWD proposes “30 for 40” — 30 hours work for 40 hours pay, a demand going back decades in the UAW.
7- UAWD demands repeal of the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act, a law that hinders organizing of unions and outlaws sympathy strikes.
8- To serve workers better than Republicans or Democrats, UAWD supports forming a Labor Party initiated by the labor movement.
9– UAWD realizes the auto industry is international and supports international working-class solidarity, not the nationalistic “Buy American” slogan that undermines unity with unions around the world.
10- International solidarity includes opposing U.S. militarism and intervention. It includes opposing UAW investment in and arming of Israel.