Face of Nation : In an emotional scene Sunday morning, union autoworkers passed picketing janitors also represented by the UAW seven hours after the maintenance workers went on strike in an escalation of already-tense contract talks. “This isn’t what solidarity looks like,” one autoworker said as he dropped off food before reporting for his shift, which started just before 7 a.m.
The autoworkers are General Motors employees and the UAW told them to report to work Sunday even though the union’s contract with GM expired at 11:59 p.m. Saturday. The union’s leadership was to meet later in the morning in Detroit to decide on next steps.
The janitors work for Aramark, with which GM contracts for maintenance at five plants in Michigan and Ohio. About 850 UAW-represented Aramark workers are on strike.
Autoworkers honked, delivered food and drinks, and swore about the situation as more than a dozen janitors picketed outside the plant, which makes highly profitable Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. One autoworker appeared to be on the verge of tears as he went to work.
“They’ve segregated us away from GM,” said Jon Lyttle, 36, of Flint, one of the janitors. “We’re one union. Everything should be done together. We’re supposed to be brothers and sisters. “I’m happy with the union and fighting for my rights,” he added. “I’m happy to be part of this piece of history.”
Adrian “Sparty” Jones, 58, of Flint said the autoworkers were in a tough spot as they await directions. “We’re the front line,” she said. “They’ll join us.”
The janitors, who have worked without a contract since March 2018, said they are paid $15-16 an hour. The UAW, in announcing the strike shortly after midnight, said the janitors’ key involve wages, caps on health insurance, vacation time and 401(k) plans.
As the UAW negotiated with GM for an autoworker contract, it told Aramark last week that the contract extension for the janitors would end at the same time the contract with GM expired.
While the union said Saturday that autoworkers would report for shifts Sunday, the janitor strike was “a potentially significant escalation,” Harley Shaiken, a labor expert at the University of California, Berkley, told the Free Press shortly after midnight.
At least one Flint Assembly autoworker said he wouldn’t cross the janitors’ picket line. “In my opinion, crossing the picket line makes you a scab,” said Sean Crawford. “I’m calling into work and I’m joining my brothers and sisters on the picket line.”
Another worker who asked that her name not be used was going to work, but said, “I’m not happy right now. Aramark is out front picketing. Union leadership said we have to come here until we find out what happens after that 10 a.m. meeting. As of right now, we’re rolling.” John Wineland, 31, of Grand Blanc said the maintenance workers’ job is dangerous, offering the example of what it takes to clean equipment that carries trucks through the plant’s paint shop. “If we get hit with the water, we will get an infection,” he said. The water pressure is such “it can literally cut your foot off.
“Blasting is a two-man job. One person blasts, one person sits outside in a safe zone to call for help if anything happens to shut off the water.”
Added Carl Shehorn III, 40, of Burton, “We’re fighting for our rights and future generations. We’re underpaid. We make $15 an hour. We maintain their equipment. We maintain their robots and conveyors. I’m the fourth generation to work at this factory.”
The Aramark employees’ work is key to plant operations, but GM said it had contingency plans in place to avoid production disruptions. Aramark manages service jobs at five GM sites: Flint Assembly, Flint Engine Operations, Flint Metal Center; the Metal Center Parma, Ohio, and the Technical Center in Warren.
