This article was published in the March 2024 edition of UAWD’s newsletter, Members Voice. Read the full newsletter here.
Since coming back from the Stand Up strike last fall, members of UAW Local 551 have experienced multiple instances of vehicle vandalism and theft. In the early morning hours of February 10th, it happened again. Some UAWD members and allies met later that day and came up with a plan to demand that the company protect our vehicles and our safety.
We decided to launch a petition demanding that the company take responsibility for damage to members’ vehicles that occurred on their premises due to inadequate security. The petition pointed out that the company protects its own property from theft and vandalism by having security gates for trucks and other vehicles to enter and depart from the property. To remedy the problem and prevent further vandalism, the company should place guard shacks with security arm gates at the entrances to employee lots. Security could close the gates after shift change to monitor vehicles coming onto the property while we are at work.
We gathered over 1,000 petition signatures in less than a week and delivered them to the bargaining committee at our union meeting on February 18. When delivering the signed petition, we pledged our full support for escalating actions to help them negotiate with the company over this issue. We will be following up with the bargaining team to gauge how those negotiations are going. Our group will also plan the next steps to win greater protections and safety for Local 551 members and our property while at work.