In 2023, Shawn Fain went from a little-known union officer to the face of the first-ever simultaneous strike against all three Detroit automakers. Three years later, he’s preparing for a second round.
Detroit’s next labor fight may already be taking shape, two years before the contracts expire.
UAW Election Results and the Road to 2028 Contract Talks
Fain declared victory Friday in his bid for a second term leading the roughly 400,000-member United Auto Workers. Preliminary totals released by a federal monitor showed him winning a majority and easily topping five challengers, according to Reuters. GM, Ford, and Stellantis did not immediately comment.
2023 | 2028 | |
|---|---|---|
Fain’s approach | Bargained with all three automakers at once, then struck all three simultaneously | Expected to stay aggressive, with the union already urging members to prepare to strike in spring 2028 |
Top demand | Wage gains | Restoring pensions for all workers, including those hired after the benefit ended in 2007 |
Outcome | Wage increases of more than 25% over four years | Contracts expire in spring 2028 |
Automakers’ position | Stronger demand | Weaker demand, tariff costs, higher materials costs, and expensive EV rollbacks |
“One thing I know about our membership is they’re ready to fight. They know they deserve better. And let’s not fool ourselves. All these companies are massively profitable.” Shawn Fain, UAW president
What Another Detroit Labor Fight Could Mean for Dealers
Labor experts see a tough road ahead. American University’s Stephen Silvia expects Fain to stay aggressive, but notes the automakers will be ready for his approach this time. Wayne State University’s Marick Masters put it more bluntly: “The recipe is there for a major confrontation.”
Unions exist to give workers a voice, and Fain’s combative style clearly delivered for his members in 2023. But the conditions in 2028 will look very different, with automakers squeezed by tariffs and costly EV pullbacks.
For dealers, the practical concern is inventory. The 2023 strikes disrupted production and shipments, and Detroit-brand stores should watch the run-up to 2028 closely. We’ll be following it every step of the way.
The best time to plan for a supply disruption is long before it starts.
Hear the full conversation on today’s episode of the Automotive State of the Union.
