MILWAUKEE — Like many other United Auto Workers strikes all over the U.S., the strike at the Stellantis Parts Distribution Center in Milwaukee continues.

What You Need To Know

  • The United Auto Workers union works have been striking for two weeks and plan to continue

  • UAW President Shawn Fain announced that GM is agreeing to a 23% increase in wage hikes

  • Those who are striking at the Stellantis Parts Distribution Center in Milwaukee are happy to see progress

This comes after the UAW union announced a major break-through in their negotiations with General Motors on Friday afternoon.

“We were about to shut down GM’s largest money maker in Arlington, Texas, the company knew those members were ready to walk immediately and just that threat has provided a trans formative win, GM has now agreed in writing to place their electric battery manufacturing under our national master agreement,” said UAW President Shawn Fain.

Fain announced that GM is agreeing to a 23% increase in wage hikes, which is more than Ford Motor Company or Stellantis.

Although those who are striking in Milwaukee are happy to see progress two weeks into the strike, they are determined to continue for as long as it takes.

Tina Lake works at Stellantis Parts Distribution Center in Milwaukee. On Friday, she led the strike in front of the site.

“I have been out here every day since it began,” Lake said.

Lake said she felt encouraged after she heard UAW President Shawn Fain speak about the progress the union has made with getting GM to come to the negotiating table.

“It’s good to see one of the big three making some progress understanding what we need,” Lake said. “What we need to make sure that we don’t shut them down and make it more difficult for them.”

Ryan McCreary has also been part of the strike every weekday for the past two weeks. He said he is fighting for better wages and pensions.

“I should not have to work side by side with somebody and they make less money than I make,” he said. “We just want to make this fair for everybody. If you are doing the same job I’m doing, you should have the same pay.”

For Lake, this strike is not just about those who work in the auto industry today.

“I’m in this with everybody else. These people are my family. We are doing this for us, our kids, our grandkids and the future,” Lake said. “Corporate America is greedy and the workers that make that money for them deserve their fair share along with their families and the future.”

Lake hopes that these auto companies can see the importance of providing their workers with fair wages, but if not, they will keep using their collective voice.

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