By Marisa Loranger, CollegiateLife Editor.
SAGINAW – Chants and cheering could be heard all around the Nexteer site, Saginaw, from Local 699 UAW union members. The strike started at midnight on Dec. 8 when second and third shift workers walked out of their plants. Union members were told to immediately go to their Local 699 Union Hall on Bagley St. in Saginaw. From there, Local 699 union members were then told where to go and picket.
“We want fair wages, we want our health care not to be touched and we want to be able to make a living. We don’t want some of our members living off of government assistance when they’re supposed to be working at a job where they should be able to live on their own,” explains Tabitha Wright, Local 699 union member.
The Nexteer union members voted “no” on Dec. 6 to the UAW and Nexteer tentative agreement by 97 percent, according to UAW local 699. The UAW went back to the bargaining table with a new proposal – which Nexteer did not agree to.. Leading employees of the automotive parts supplier believe that striking was the next best option.
Over a four year span workers would receive pay raises in the tentative agreement. Each raise was dependent upon the worker’s position and tier.
The pay raise wasn’t the only problem Local 699 union members had with their contract. There were changes to their vacation policy and health insurance as well as loss in paid holidays. Union members are provided with HMO and PPO free of cost, and they are allowed to choose what they prefer. Under the tentative agreement that was turned down, workers would receive HMO for free, but PPO would have to come out of pocket.
Local 699 workers had their insurance suspended due to the strike. The UAW will reimburse its union members until the strike is over and their insurance is brought back.
People driving past protesters honked their horns in solidarity and sometimes even pulled over to drop off Tim Hortons doughnuts and bags of food from McDonald’s. Union members were not allowed into the Nexteer site, so security drove around to make sure protesters were staying on the outside of the gate.
A Local 699 union member drove a bus back and forth from the plant entrances to the Union Hall to help transport those who needed to warm up or get a picket sign. The signs were all different colors with the words “UAW ON STRIKE” and “UAW on STRIKE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES” plastered on them.
There are about 3,300 people that UAW Local 699 represents at Nexteer. Nexteer is a manufacturer of steering gears for Fiat Chrysler and General Motors. If the strike were to last more than two days, it would shut down Chrysler and GM plants as well due to a lack of parts.
“In 2015, working at Nexteer, you should be able to take care of your family and not have to worry if you have enough money to pay your bills. We work 40 hours, some of us even work 60 to 80 hours. You should be able to work 40 hours and be able to live. This strike is going to shut them down and show them that were serious. Show them the power that we have,” explained Wright.
As of 8 p.m. Dec. 8, Nexteer and the union reached a tentative agreement. First shift workers are expected to go to work for their normal shift on Dec. 9. Union members have yet to find out what the agreement has in store for them. They are expected to continue working until the new contract goes to a vote.
