As UAW Expands Strike, Democratic Environmental and Youth Leaders and Organizations Stand in Solidarity with UAW Workers
Today, as the United Auto Workers expanded their strike, a coalition of Democratic environmental and youth leaders and organizations released the following statement of support for UAW workers:
We stand in solidarity with the workers of the United Auto Workers (UAW) in their negotiations for a fair contract. No worker, family or community should be left behind as we face the disruptions and opportunities associated with the accelerating climate emergency and the necessary, urgent transition to a green economy.
Increasing gaps in wealth and income in the United States leave us less prepared as families, communities and a nation for addressing the public health, infrastructure, and other issues driven by the climate crisis, from extreme weather, polluted air, sea rise, heat emergencies, hurricanes, wildfire smoke and more.
The U.S. transportation system is responsible for a larger amount of greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector of the economy. Investments and expansion of electric vehicles, electric vehicle battery production, and mass transit including trains and buses are key parts of countering the climate crisis and creating American jobs. Those jobs need to be good-paying jobs, with strong labor standards. Green jobs need to be good jobs.
Wages and benefits need to keep pace not only with the cost of living, but ensure workers receive a fair share of the massive corporate profits. GM and Ford made over $100 billion and $75 billion in profits, respectively, between 2013 and 2022; Stellantis made nearly $18 billion in 2022. Meanwhile, workers’ wages have not even kept pace with inflation.
For these reasons, we support the workers of the UAW in their demands for:
An end to the unjust tiered wage system, with equal pay and benefits for all;
Just wage and benefit increases;
Inclusion of all workers, including in electric battery production, in the national UAW contract;
No loss of auto worker or electric battery production jobs going forward.
The statement was jointly released by:
Michelle Deatrick, Chair, DNC Environment and Climate Crisis Council
Quentin Wathum-Ocama, President, Young Democrats of America
Annika Krovi, Chair, High School Democrats of America
Catherine Thomasson, Vice Chair, Democratic Party of Oregon Environmental Caucus
Dana Freling, Chair, Democrats Abroad, Environment and Climate Crisis Council
Daniel Ayala, Vice-President, Texas Environmental Democratic Caucus
Doyle Canning, Chair, Democratic Party of Oregon Environmental Caucus
Howard Chou, AAPI Director, DNC Environment and Climate Crisis Council
Igor Tregub, Chair, California Democratic Party Environmental Caucus
Jillian Morton, Vice Chair of Governance, Young Democrats of America Environmental Caucus
John Capece, President, Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida
Judy Freiberg, Vice President, Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida
Laura Maretich, Chair, DC Dems Environmental Caucus
Paul Presendieu, National Environmental Caucus Chair, Young Democrats of America
Russell Conn, Past President, Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida
Terry Altherr, Vice Chair of Organizing, Young Democrats of America Environmental Caucus
Carter Fay, Chairman, Georgia High School Democrats
Emily Brandt, President, San Joaquin Valley Democratic Club
DNC Environment and Climate Crisis Council
Young Democrats of America Environmental Caucus
