This resolution was passed at the October 2024 Annual Membership Meeting via Zoom on October 13, 2024.
A Call for UAWD to Prioritize Bottom-up Organizing for a General Strike in 2028
Authors: Ben Smith (Local 5287) and Nolan Tabb (Local 281)
Supporters: Navruz Baum (Local 2325), Logan Ausherman (Local 7), Toly Rinberg (Local 22), Dawnya Ferdinandsen (Local 14), Peter Racioppo (Local 4811), Jessie Kelly (Local 160), Andrew Bergman (Local 22), Jake Scarponi (Local 2322), Judy Wraight (Local 600), Tamar Samir (Local 7902), Dan Vicente (Local 644), Shahinaz Geneid (GENU-UAW & HAW-UAW), Sophia Gurulé (Local 2325)
Whereas last fall, at the conclusion of the Stand Up strike by workers at the Big 3 auto manufacturers, UAW President Shawn Fain raised the specter of the UAW organizing and leading a general strike by the broader U.S. working class in 2028. The general strike would take place that year on May 1, also known as International Workers Day — the day that the UAW’s current National Agreements at the Big 3 expire.
Whereas significant elements of the U.S. labor movement have since signed on in support. Delegates to this year’s annual national convention of the American Federation of Teachers — which represents some 1.8 million teachers and other education workers across the country — passed a resolution backing the call for a 2028 general strike.
Whereas an independent initiative, Bargain Together, has been launched by a group of leaders and members of various central labor councils (CLCs) to assist and encourage CLCs across the country in passing resolutions in support of a 2028 general strike. Thus far, such resolutions have been passed by numerous CLCs and local unions.
Whereas UAWD has an important role to play in building this movement. A successful general strike has to be organized deeply among our union’s membership, with rank-and-file organizers in UAWD and other worker militants playing a key role. Strikes called for by top leadership without rank-and-file buy in inevitably tend to flounder. But democratic strikes, where the membership has real control over the goals and the strategy, can grow in power to truly challenge capital.
Be it resolved that UAWD shall prioritize building the movement for a general strike in 2028.
Be it resolved that UAWD shall task the Organizing Committee (OC), which will work together with other UAWD committees, in leading this initiative.
Be it resolved that UAWD members, where possible, shall organize forums that educate members of our locals, as well as members of other unions and the broader labor movement, in the need for a general strike in 2028.
Be it resolved that UAWD shall develop educational materials, literature, and trainings to assist in educating the broader UAW membership in understanding the significance of the proposed 2028 general strike.
Be it resolved that UAWD members and the OC shall organize to build support for and pass resolutions in their locals for a 2028 general strike.
Be it resolved that UAWD shall begin facilitating an open debate within the labor movement to democratically formulate a list of demands to raise before the capitalist state during the 2028 general strike, which might include Medicare for All, passage of the PRO Act, a ban on stock buybacks and mass layoffs, a shorter workweek, retirement security for all, and more.
Be it resolved that UAWD calls on the IEB to commit to a bottom-up approach for the 2028 general strike through backing initiatives aimed at organizing and empowering workers to lead this struggle, including but not limited to a.) holding local and regional town halls around the country to gauge what would motivate rank-and-file members to participate in a general strike and organize their co-workers; b.) polling the UAW membership as a whole to develop both the demands and the strategy for realizing them; and c.) empowering rank-and-file members to lead initiatives for a general strike in their local organizing committees, with funds, training materials, and other resources.
Be it resolved that the UAWD Steering Committee shall ensure all UAWD endorsees on the IEB have received this resolution.