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UAW’s potential strike could make vehicles even pricier
The United Auto Workers union could strike when its contract ends on Sept. 14 after General Motors, Stellantis and Ford dismissed its demands.
MINNEAPOLIS — What was called the “summer of strikes” still may not be over.
The United Autoworkers Union is edging closer to a strike for its 146,000 members when its contract ends on Sept. 14. Workers for General Motors, Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) and Ford are pushing for a 46% pay boost and a 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay.
Experts say there’s a high probability for a strike, because not only can the UAW fund one for about 10 weeks, but its president is also aggressive.
The news comes as other unions are leveraging low unemployment and successfully negotiating new contracts.
Just last month, hundreds of thousands of UPS workers ratified a new contract. They had been preparing to strike after negotiations failed, which would have caused a huge shipping shake-up.
Minnesota’s UPS union president, Jonathan Kycek, helped pass the historic contract, which will double pay raises and improve working conditions. He says it helped set a new kind of standard.
“I think other unions are looking to it and saying, ‘Hey, look, what the Teamsters Local 638 could get done. Let’s get that for our members as well,'” said Kycek.
“I think unions are stronger,” said professor of law at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law David Larson. “I think it’s kind of a renaissance for them.”
Larson says U.S. unions are flexing their muscles as more than 320,000 workers have gone on some 200 strikes so far this year, which is the most in 23 years, according to data by the Cornell ILR School Labor Action Tracker.
“They’re sick and tired; they’ve realized their value,” said the director of UAW Region 4, Brandon Campbell. “Our members are significantly more vigilant. They’re more determined to get better contracts across every single sector that we have.”
Campbell leads the UAW in 12 states, including Minnesota, where there are about 1,000 members. The members across the country have a hand in the entire process of producing a vehicle from the foundries to machine shops.
“We need to level this playing field. We need to reign in executive compensation and these soaring, soaring profits while wages are absolutely flatlined,” said Campbell.
The automakers rake in huge profits, with some estimates at about $20 billion this year alone. They have dismissed the UAW’s demands as baseless.
But it would be hard to replace striking workers and the UAW hasn’t said whether it will target just one automaker. If a strike happens, the companies could lose billions in a matter of days — some of which would be passed on to consumers.
“I guess the hope is that all consumers get a bigger share of the pie,” said Larson about being willing to walk the picket line. “So, while prices are going up, we’ll be making more money and it won’t be as hard.”
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Fire officials say the flames started in a garage but then jumped to an apartment building and hotel.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis Fire Department (MFD) evacuated residents after a four-alarm fire sparked on the city’s south side late Wednesday night.
The fire chief told KARE 11 that the fire started in a garage unit on the 5600 block of Lyndale Ave. S and quickly jumped to a motel and apartment complex nearby. All three will be declared a total loss.
The Red Cross was called to help a reported 50 displaced tenants find a place to stay. Two firefighters and one resident were medically evaluated for injuries.
Fire crews used an aerial ladder water tower to dump large amounts of water on the apartment building in an effort to knock down the flames.
KARE 11 will update this story as more information is available.
Jerry McAfee, founder of 21 Days of Peace, said many of these kids are committing crimes for recreation and don’t understand the consequences of their actions.
MINNEAPOLIS — Community leaders say they were disheartened to see the latest string of youth crime, but they’re not shocked.
“The youth that age and younger have been participating in criminal activity long before you guys just found out,” said KG Wilson, a retired peace activist.
Wilson said the perception of kids committing crimes is hard for people to imagine.
“Nobody wanted to believe that these children this young would be doing this type of criminal activity in the community,” he said. “Instead of them listening to the few of us that we’re trying to tell them about this before it gets worse, it got worse. And then you got the taps on the hands because a lot of these kids have been doing this for years.”
Jerry McAfee has seen the same things. He’s the founder of 21 Days of Peace and works with dozens of kids to keep them on the right path.
“This behavior is not new. What is new is we are yet to be alarmed to the point that the necessary synergy is created to get ahead of that stuff and to try and stop it,” McAfee said.
He believes it’s time for a new approach.
“What we were doing three or four years ago and have been doing the last few years isn’t working. It’s getting worse. So, if it’s getting worse just stop, admit it’s not working, and let’s put something together,” he said.
McAfee said many of these kids are committing crimes for recreation and don’t understand the consequences of their actions.
“That’s the message they got to get. This is not games. This is real-life,” he said. “I don’t think there is many repercussions, and what kids deem now as fun is dangerous.”
Wilson agrees the problem is getting worse each year, and kids and teenagers need to be held accountable.
“There’s going to have to be some consequences to their actions and they’re going to have know, these children are going have to know if you do this, this is what’s going to happen to you,” Wilson said. “If that doesn’t happen, they’re going to say and think in their mind, we can do anything we want and we’re just going to get a pat on the hand.”
He said it’s not all on the parents. He said some of them have tried to get their child help, but nothing seems to work.
“A lot of times these kids have gotten so out of control that some of the parents fear them. The parents fear them,” he said.
Wilson believes people need to become neighbors again and look out for kids on their block.
“We got to start getting back to community meetings,” he said. “It’s about tough love. It’s going to have to be about tough love. You’re going to have to get tough. It’s either you’re going to let them go, let the streets have them, or you’re going to take them back yourself.”
McAfee said it might be time to air public service announcements explaining the consequences of committing crimes.
The boy had been last seen on the 2500 block of 14th Ave S.
MINNEAPOLIS — Police in Minneapolis say a 4-year-old who was reported missing has been found safe.
According to the Minneapolis Police Department, Jacob Gonzalez Orbe had been last seen around 3:40 p.m. Wednesday on the 2500 block of 14th Ave S.
In an update Monday evening, police said he was found and is safe.
This story has been updated from a previous version.
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