The United Auto Workers union officially struck the Big Three Automakers Friday night, demanding wage increases, a 32-hour work week, and pension increases for retirees commiserate with the automakers’ record profits over the last few years.

The workers members walked out at three plants: a GM site in Wentzville, Missouri; a Stellantis center in Toledo, Ohio; and a Ford assembly location in Wayne, Michigan. The plants are GM’s midsize truck and full-size van plant in Wentzville, Missouri; Ford’s Ranger midsize pickup and Bronco SUV plant in Wayne, Michigan; and Stellantis’ Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio. 

Stellantis N.V. is a  manufacturing corporation formed from the Italian–American conglomerate merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

President Joe Biden said that over the past four years of the now-expired UAW contract, vehicle prices increased 30%, CEO pay 40%, and worker pay increased 6%. 

According to the Economic Policy Institute, profits at Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis almost doubled between 2013 and 2022, totaling $250 billion. 

About 9% of the United Auto Workers’ 145,000 union members participated in the strike, but more could soon be joining them if the union’s demands aren’t met in this historic strike against the automakers.

In addition, the UAW’s demands include wage increases, cost-of-living pay raises, the end-to-end tiers for factory jobs, and the restoration of traditional defined-benefit pensions for new hires who now receive only 401(k)-style retirement plans.