UAW Holding Major Rally and March in Detroit on First Day of Historic Stand Up Strike

DETROIT – The UAW is holding a major rally and march in downtown Detroit on the first day of its historic Stand Up Strike against the Big Three automakers. The rally is at 5 p.m. today at the UAW-Ford Joint Trusts Center and features union President Shawn Fain, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders.

WHAT: Rally and March to Save the American Dream

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 15, Crowd Arrives at 4 p.m.; Rally at 5 p.m.; March to Follow

WHERE: Rally at UAW-Ford Joint Trusts Center, 151 W. Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48226

March will begin at the rally site, go past the GM Renaissance Center to Beaubien Blvd., then return to the rally site, concluding the program.

After the march, there will be media availability with President Fain at the staging tent near the rally stage.

The Stand Up Strike began on Thursday at midnight. Ford, General Motors and Stellantis all took more than a month to respond to the UAW’s Members’ Demands and failed to put fair contract offers on the table. It is the first time in industry history that the union has struck all of the Big Three at once.

The Stand Up Strike is a new approach to striking. Instead of striking all plants all at once, select locals will be called on to “Stand Up” and walk out on strike.

The first three plants to go out on strike are: GM Wentzville Assembly, Local 2250 in Region 4; Stellantis Toledo Assembly Complex, Local 12 in Region 2B; and Ford Michigan Assembly Plant – Final Assembly and Paint only, Local 900 in Region 1A.

As time goes on, more locals may be called on to “Stand Up” and join the strike. This gives the UAW maximum leverage and maximum flexibility in its fight to win a fair contract at each of the Big Three automakers.

Last night, President Fain joined UAW members on the picket line at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan. Before today’s rally in Detroit, he will walk the line with Local 12 members in Toledo.

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