UAW Shows Support For Striking GM Workers In Brazil

The UAW, which is itself in the final stages of its massive Stand Up Strike, said in an X (formerly Twitter) post that it “stands in solidarity with GM workers striking against unnecessary and callous mass layoffs in São Paulo,” Brazil.

The X post also contains a copy of the email sent by the militant new president of the UAW, Shawn Fain, to the leading personnel of the striking Brazilian unions.

Fain says that he is writing “to express our outrage toward General Motors” for the Brazil layoffs. He continues in a similar vein of rhetorical fire and brimstone, observing that the layoffs “affect the job security” of GM Brazil workers and alleging the move violates both union agreements and the law, before declaring “the UAW is all too familiar with GM’s habit of not honoring agreements and breaking labor laws!”

The email goes on to express expected sentiments of solidarity. It also notes that the union supports the Brazilian worker’s demand that the country’s president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva “issue a provisional measure establishing employment stability and reducing daily working hours without wage reduction.”

The strikes were triggered by recent GM layoffs at three of its plants in Brazil, including the GM São José dos Campos facility, the São Caetano do Sul facility, and the Mogi das Cruzes facility. GM carried out the layoffs without first notifying the local labor unions, which is claimed to be a violation of previous agreements.

The São José dos Campos plant produces transmissions, engines, the Chevy S-10 and the Chevy TrailBlazer SUV. Earlier, The General justified its layoffs by stating “we understand the impact this decision might have on people’s lives, but the move is necessary and will allow the company to maintain the agility of its operations.”

Meanwhile, the UAW and GM appear to have reached a tentative agreement in their U.S. contract negotiations. Exact details of the agreement are still unknown as the pact awaits ratification by the union’s 46,000 members.

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