Bargaining As a Team

There are a lot of misconceptions around bargaining. No one person does it, bargaining requires a team. Each department elects a top committee to conduct negotiations. Every contract year, local unions submit demands for bargaining. Those demands are assembled and the top committee draft a strategy that is used at the table.

Bargaining is a team activity, involving the top committee, with the backing of local union leadership, the specific department and the International Executive Board. Collectively we bargain as a team to ensure our members the compensation, the benefits and the job security they deserve.

In addition to bargaining with a company, we also have government regulations that must be considered. Economic conditions, shifts in consumer demands, industry trends and federal elections can all impact bargaining conditions. That is why the team approach is so important to bargaining. As a union, our strength has always resided in our solidarity. It was solidarity that sustained the sit downers in Flint. It was solidarity that saw us through the battle of the overpass at the Ford Rouge Facility. It was solidarity that saw us through the 1970 General Motors Strike that established pensions and cost of living raises. In 2023, our members stood together to win compensation victories that set the standard for American Workers.

Every victory won at the bargaining table has come through solidarity. I pledge to you, to work tirelessly with our great top committees, with local union leaders and the dedicated members of our team to protect your standard of living, your future and the future of your children and communities. There is no turning back, and as a team we can secure the future.

In Solidarity,

Mike