WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) – The United Auto Workers union said on Wednesday it is launching a first-of-its-kind push to publicly organize the entire nonunion auto sector in the U.S. after winning new contracts with the Detroit Three automakers.
The Detroit-based UAW said workers at 13 nonunion automakers were announcing simultaneous campaigns across the country to join the union, including at Tesla (TSLA.O), Toyota (7203.T), Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), Hyundai (005380.KS), Rivian (RIVN.O), Nissan (7201.T), BMW (BMWG.DE) and Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE).
Those automakers employ nearly 150,000 workers at their U.S. assembly plants, about the same number as those employed by the Detroit Three companies with which the UAW just signed new labor agreements, the union said.
“To all the auto workers out there working without the benefits of a union, now it’s your turn,” UAW President Shawn Fain said in a video posted on a website urging auto workers to sign electronic cards seeking union representation.
“The money is there. The time is right,” he added. “You don’t have to worry about how you’re going to pay your rent or feed your family while the company makes billions. A better life is out there.”
The UAW’s deals with General Motors (GM.N), Ford Motor (F.N) and Stellantis (STLAM.MI) included a 25% increase in base wages through 2028, cut the time needed to reach top pay to three years from eight years, boosted the pay of temporary workers by 150% and made them permanent employees.
The UAW detailed its organizing strategy. The union said if 30% of workers at a nonunion plant sign cards seeking to join, it would make that public. If 50% of workers seek to join, the UAW would hold a rally with Fain to tout the effort. At 70% and with an organizing committee in place, the UAW would seek recognition or demand a union representation vote.
Other automakers the UAW is targeting include Honda (7267.T), Subaru (9778.T), Mazda (7261.T), Lucid (LCID.O) and Volvo Cars.
Honda was cool to the idea of union representation at its U.S. plants.
“We do not believe an outside party would enhance the excellent employment experience of our associates, nor would it improve upon the outstanding track record of success and employment stability Honda manufacturing associates in America have achieved,” it said in a statement.
A Subaru spokesman said the Japanese automaker has “consistently demonstrated a commitment to proactively do the right thing for its associates.”
Officials with Toyota, Rivian and Volkswagen declined to comment and the other automakers could not immediately be reached.
The UAW effort with the nonunion automakers echoes the approach it took with the Detroit Three, where the union negotiated simultaneously with all three in reaching an agreement after a six-week strike.
The push comes as several foreign automakers have announced significant pay and other compensation improvements in response to the UAW contracts in a move many analysts and industry officials saw as an…
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