WENTZVILLE — The auto workers strike here continued to draw political interest, this time attracting two prominent Democratic congresswomen to a rally for workers on Sunday.
Democratic U.S. Reps. Cori Bush, D-ºüÀêÊÓƵ, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., took to the stage at the local United Auto Workers 2250 hall to deliver a message to automakers: No deals, no wheels.
In between shouts of “2-2-5-0,†Bush and Cortez addressed around 400 UAW members and other supporters during a half-hour rally backing workers and their demands as they strike against the “Big Three†automakers GM, Ford and Stellantis.
“When executives can afford yachts and multiple vacation homes, yet their workers struggle to afford to pay for housing, that’s a red flag,†Bush told the crowd. “It’s time for a change.â€
Thousands of General Motors workers at the Wentzville plant went on strike on Sept. 15, along with several other key plants across the U.S. in an unprecedented move by the UAW to force the nation’s three largest car companies to boost pay and benefits.
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The UAW has broken with its normal strategy in bargaining this year. Historically, the union has focused on bargaining with one of the three companies and used its agreement as a template for the others. This year, the UAW didn’t pick one target and opted instead to strike at specific plants rather than across entire companies. The UAW has been in talks with the Big Three since July but as of Sunday evening has yet to come to an agreement.
On Friday, the UAW expanded its strikes against GM and Stellantis, where UAW workers at all 38 parts-distribution centers operated by General Motors and Jeep and Ram owner Stellantis in 20 states walked out. Ford avoided additional strikes because the company has met some of the union’s demands during negotiations over the past week, the UAW said.
GM has said it has presented five “historic†offers covering wages and job security, and a company spokesperson called the strike expansion “unnecessary.â€
“We are trying to get back to where we were in 2007 and 2009, and since that time, these companies have exploited our workforce,†Brandon Campbell, director of UAW region 4, which includes Missouri, said after the rally. “When people hear 40% pay increases, they don’t realize that still takes us below where we were in 2007 and 2009.â€
Bush and Ocasio-Cortez were met with raucous applause and cheers from UAW workers and supporters with other labor and civil rights groups including the Missouri NAACP, Missouri Workers Center and Moms Demand Action. Many of the progressive members from the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Board of Aldermen, including Board President Megan Green, were also in attendance, as was Missouri Rep. Doug Clemens, D-ºüÀêÊÓƵ County, and ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, a Democrat from Maplewood.
Bush, who represents parts of ºüÀêÊÓƵ but not Wentzville, spoke about how the cost of living had outpaced wage increases for many families and called for higher wages.
“When the workers who build the Chevy Colorado can’t afford to buy a Chevy Colorado, that’s a red flag,†Bush said.
Ocasio-Cortez echoed Bush, adding that the U.S. economy is in a “special kind of crisis†with rising inequality.
“Prices are skyrocketing, not because workers are making an insane amount more but because CEO excess is at insane levels we’ve never seen before,†she said. “They are squeezing the working class of this country.â€
After the rally, Bush and Ocasio-Cortez met with workers on the picket line before leaving.
Katie Deatherage, president of UAW Local 2250, lauded the congresswomen after their speech and said their presence helped to energize workers.
“We’re going to make it through this,†Deatherage said.
Other political leaders are expected to meet with workers in Michigan this week. President Joe Biden is slated to join workers on Tuesday. Former President Donald Trump is expected on Wednesday.
The Associated Press and Annika Merrilees of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.