As part of a convoy traveling from Michigan, more than 40 Ford Broncos drivers honked their vehicle horns to signify solidarity with the Jeep strikers in Toledo.
Bronco owners from United Auto Workers Local 900, who work at Ford plants in Michigan, drove on I-280 and took laps around the Toledo Assembly Complex with raised fists and loud honks in a strike convoy that arrived Thursday.
Toledo UAW members from Locals 12 and 14, who work at Jeep and General Motors in Toledo, clad in red shirts waved and hollered with joy as they watched Local 900 members and their families raising UAW signs from their Broncos. New Broncos are made at the Ford plant in Wayne, Mich., where a strike is also under way about an hour north of Toledo.
“It’s not competitors coming together,” said Mike Sullivan, a member of UAW Local 900. “It’s not. It’s about the UAW standing up for exactly what the UAW deserves. Point blank. I’ve been there 28 years as a Ford employee. I’ve had a 6 percent raise over the last 16 years, and that is so far behind where we should be. With the money we’ve made towards this corporation, it’s not fair to us.”
He added UAW is a family standing for “fair justice.”
Mr. Sullivan works with his wife, Tonia, at a Ford plant in Michigan. She started working there to spend more time with him, she said
“You don’t get family time,” Mrs. Sullivan said. “I started working at Ford just because he works 12 hours a day. I never [got] to see my husband, so I had to get a job at Ford just to see my husband.”
She said she remembers when Ford workers could provide for their families with one income but that’s no longer the case.
“You can’t afford your car now,” Mrs. Sullivan said. “You can’t afford day care. You can’t afford a house.”
Bruce Baumhower, president of UAW Local 12, said he’s excited to have UAW members from Michigan show their support on the roads in front of the assembly plant that produces Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators.
“We try to sell more cars than them, they try to sell more cars than us,” Mr. Baumhower said. “We think our Jeeps are the best, they think their Broncos are the best; but guess what, today we’re aligned against these greedy corporations.”
President of UAW Local 14 Tony Totty said several Jeep workers have supported General Motors in previous years, and it was important for GM workers to stand in solidarity with UAW members who work for Jeep.
The strike started early on Sept. 15. On Sept. 17, members of Local 14 formed a caravan to drive around Toledo Jeep Complex continuously.
“Four years ago, we were in the General Motors national strike,” Mr. Totty said. “Something started [between the two Locals] then with the Jeeps showing their support by having ‘Solidarity Sunday,’ and they showed a big presence of over 100 Jeeps that came in and rolled around our facility continuously.”
He said several Jeeps recently drove to a Ford facility in Michigan to show solidarity with Local 900.
“They loved it so much that they wanted to reciprocate, send [Fords] down here, and that’s what this event is for,” Mr. Totty said.
Reginald Hereford, who works for Jeep, said there were no differences among the three companies on Thursday.
“Ultimately, in this moment, there are no competitors,” he said. “We’re all working together for the same goal. To get a better contract, get temporary employees here full-time, with benefits and wages for everybody.”
Five-year temporary Jeep employee Courtney Torres said having Ford workers support Jeep employees is encouraging for her.
“It makes me feel good,” she said. “This is my team here. I’m out here with some friends… just showing my support.”
Among the sea of red shirts on the sidewalk of Stickney Ave were Toledo City Council members Nick Komives, Cerssandra McPherson, Carrie Hartman, Theresa Morris, Vanice Williams, and Tiffany Whitman, who went to the picket line to show their support for the Jeep workers.
“Jeep is Toledo,” Mr. Komives said. “These workers matter, and corporate greed is killing us. These CEOs are making nine and a half thousand dollars a minute, which is what one of these workers make in a month.”
No company representatives were on hand at the site Thursday. A telephone message was left for a response.
“They’re making record profits right now, and they’re unwilling to share it with our workers,” Mr. Komives said. “This impacts our local economy. These are our friends, families, and neighbors. We’ve got to do what we can to help support those folks who are in our community who are making a difference here in Toledo every day.”
When asked which company had the best cars, Mr. Sullivan said, “I can’t answer that.”
“Union-made is the best made,” Mr. Sullivan said.
First Published September 21, 2023, 9:26 p.m.
