Reuters Insider - Sanders joins UAW picket line as GM talks progress

Union

26/09/2019 07:08

Click the following link to watch video: https://share.insider.thomsonreuters.com/link?entryId=0_7iebwd8w&referenceId=tag:reuters.com,2019:newsml_OVAY5WIXR_930&pageId=ReutersNews
Source: Reuters Insider

Description: Vermont senator Bernie Sanders visited striking United Auto
Workers as the work stoppage continued for a 10th day. Sources told Reuters
the two side are making progress on a labor deal but are still far apart on
the issue of temporary workers. Conway G. Gittens has the story.
Short Link: https://tmsnrt.rs/2l4X6yu

Video Transcript:

The picket line on the 2020 campaign trail crossed paths Wednesday as
Democratic Presidential Candidate Senator Bernie Sanders joined striking
General Motors workers.

What we are saying today to General Motors is start investing in your workers,
stop cutting healthcare, stop threatening pensions, pay your workers a decent
wage, stop shutting down plants in America and moving abroad.

His visit comes on day 10 of a walkout by United Auto Workers that analysts
say is costing General Motors about $100 million a day. But sources told
Reuters Wednesday that talks between the union that represents the 48,000
striking hourly employees and GM aren’t making progress. To win over the
union, GM has promised to invest $7 billion in US plants, issue annual raises
in a new four-year deal, increase profit-sharing, and keep the current
healthcare insurance plan. But sources warned there’s been little
movement on the more thorny issues of job security and pay for newer and
temporary workers. The walkout, which is now the longest strike by auto
workers in nearly 30 years, has become a political event. Others running for
the Democratic Presidential nomination has shown up at the picket lines.
Former Vice President Joe Biden had this message for striking workers in
Kansas City.

What could’ve happened when we bailed out GM? We didn’t bail out GM,
UAW bailed out GM.

While Senator Elizabeth Warren took her pro-union support to striking workers
in Detroit.

GM is demonstrating that it has no loyalty to the workers of America or to the
people of America.

The UAW is striking over job cuts, plant closings, and GM’s desire to use
more temporary employees. Workers say they feel particularly betrays in light
of the give-backs union workers agreed to in order to save GM during the
financial crisis