President Shawn Fain of the United Auto Workers (UAW) lodged a complaint on Thursday against US Senator Tim Scott, alleging that he threatened the workers’ ability to strike, constituting a violation of US federal labor law. The complaint was centered on public remarks made by Senator Scott, during which he said, “you strike, you’re fired”, after praising ex-President Ronald Regan’s decision in 1981 to fire federal employees who had gone on strike. It must be noted at this point that the UAW members have been on strike against three major US automakers, Ford, Stellantis and General Motors, over pay and labor disputes for roughly a week.
The complaint was filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and contended that the aforementioned remarks by Senator Scott “threatened employees with adverse consequences if they engage in protected, concerted activity”. The complaint argues that Scott’s actions break the National Labor Relations Act, an act ensuring employee rights to “self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection.”
Senator Scott’s response to the complaint came promptly, stating “They want to threaten me and shut me up. They don’t scare me.” He is presently vying for US presidency in the Republican primary.
Meanwhile, UAW members remain steadfast in their strike against the “Big Three” automakers—Ford, Stellantis and General Motors. Following a failed progress toward a fair agreement this week, Fain announced that the strike would substantially expand to 38 locations in 20 states. The UAW is demanding a 36% pay increase over a four-year contract, annual cost-of-living adjustments, the re-establishment of pension benefits, increased job security, and a four-day work week.
The UAW is one of North America’s largest labor unions and their constitution states their aim is to “improve working conditions, create a uniform system of shorter hours, higher wages, [and] health care and pensions.” Fain was elected by UAW members and sworn in as UAW president earlier this year.