Mack Trucks worker Will Lehman with striking MGM Grand casino workers

He distributed an open letter from the Mack Trucks Rank-and-File Committee calling for a united fight of Mack workers and all Detroit Three autoworkers instead of the phony “stand up” strike called by Fain. Mack Trucks worker Will Lehman, who ran as a socialist for UAW president in 2022, visited the picket line of Detroit casino workers the first day of their strike. The battle lines were expanded after 4,000 Mack Trucks workers in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida walked out October 9 after rejecting a sellout contract recommended by Fain. Despite the expiration of the contact September 14, UAW President Shawn Fain has called out only 23 percent of UAW membership, and no workers at Stellantis or GM plants in the Detroit area, major profit centers for the companies.

These strikes are taking place simultaneously with the ongoing contract struggle of 146,000 workers at the Detroit Three auto companies. They work in the customer service, claims and maintenance departments of the $30 billion health insurance company and are fighting for wage increases to offset soaring inflation as well as decent health care benefits and an end to outsourcing. More than 1,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan workers, members of the UAW, have been on strike for over one month.

Are detroit casinos on strike