Increase Strike Pay
UAWD Priority resolution for
the UAW Constitutional Convention
Increase Strike Pay
Amendment to Article 50
Strike pay is essential to using the most powerful tool workers have—going on strike. Increasing strike pay & starting strike pay earlier make our union stronger for the fights to come in 2023.
Background
- Earlier this year, UAWD activists organized in over 25 locals—representing almost 200,000 members across multiple sectors—to pass a constitutional amendment calling for 1) an increase in strike pay from $275 to at least $400 per week, and 2) earning strike benefits beginning on Day 1, to be paid out on Day 8.
- In response (not a coincidence!), the current IEB voted to increase strike pay to $400 per week, effective immediately. However, this has not yet been ratified into the Constitution.
- Our goal is to amend the Constitution to reflect the new increase to $400 per week and ensure Day 1 calculation of strike pay.
Opposition from the Administration Caucus
- The AC does not prioritize supporting workers on strike—or encouraging militant strikes that can win contract demands. The 2019 GM strike was widely assessed to be controlled by AC leadership, to “let off steam,” and to make the tentative agreement that was ultimately signed more palatable to GM workers.
- The AC negotiated contracts that were voted down by margins as high as 90% by workers at Volvo in 2021, John Deere in 2021, and Case New Holland in 2022. The subsequent strikes were not organized by the AC—they reflected bottom-up militancy from workers on the shop floor and persisted in spite of deficiencies in strike pay.
- Likewise, the AC did not support the worker-organized strikes for local contract agreements at NYU & Columbia in 2021 or the wildcat strikes at U. of California in 2022.
Why Strike Pay Matters to Our Union Democracy
Why put the strike pay increase into the constitution?
- The current IEB only voted to raise strike pay under effective grassroots political pressure. Once pressure is off, they may lower it again.
- The increase in strike pay is already benefiting workers on strike at Case New Holland, and emboldening other workers in the UAW. Putting it in the constitution will make it clear that this support won’t be rescinded, especially in advance of the Big Three contract negotiations in 2023.
Why do we need Day 1 calculation of strike pay?
- Many effective strikes in the UAW last for less than a week, including recognition strikes and strikes for contract demands. In 2021 alone, multiple locals in auto and higher ed (including ZF Marysville, Harvard, & Boston Museum of Fine Arts) effectively struck for contract demands and/or for new union recognition.
- However, they lost wages for the entire period they were out on strike. Day 1 calculation of benefits would encourage more UAW members to go out on strike, particularly short strikes.
- One week of wage loss is significant for a strike of any length—and affects how long workers can stay out. Two of the most successful strikes in recent UAW history were the five-week 2021 John Deere strike and the three-week 2021 NYU strike. UAW members should be supported by their union for the whole period that they’re out on strike.
- It’s possible—other major unions are doing it. Delegates at the Teamsters convention in 2021 voted to establish Day 1 calculation of strike pay because they take the power of striking seriously.
Why Strike Pay matters to us
- As an auto worker, we may very well need to strike one, or more than one, of the Big Three next year to eliminate tiers, make temps permanent, and restore past gains—so we need to increase strike benefits now.
- As a legal services worker, many (if not most) of us have no-strike clauses in our contracts. Even though we may never get strike pay, we have to stand with our union siblings using the most powerful tool workers have.
- As a higher ed worker, our locals have used short, strategically timed strikes to win important victories. Strike pay starting on Day 1 is essential to successful short strikes.
2022 Convention
Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD) is a grassroots movement of UAW members united in the common goal of creating a more democratic and accountable union.
Follow what we're fighting for at the 2022 UAW Constitutional Convention.
