Fain: Pensions, Retirement Health Care Must Be in Next Detroit 3 Contract

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UAW President Shawn Fain Sets Bold Demands for 2028 Contract Negotiations

With just under 1,000 days until the United Auto Workers (UAW) contracts with the Detroit Three automakers—Ford Motor Co., General Motors, and Stellantis—expire, UAW President Shawn Fain has already begun to lay out his vision for the future. In a 45-minute livestreamed town hall address on September 11, Fain emphasized that the union’s next round of negotiations will focus on restoring critical benefits for its members.

Fain, speaking from the Solidarity House in Detroit, made it clear that the UAW will not accept anything less than retiree health care and a real pension for all members when the contracts expire in 2028. “On May Day (May 1) 2028, the UAW will not settle for anything less than retiree health care and a real pension,” he said.

This demand is part of a broader effort to restore the union’s traditional benefits, which were lost during the Great Recession and the decline of the American auto industry. Currently, UAW members who joined before 2008 have access to pensions and retirement health care, while those who joined after 2008 do not. Fain called this disparity unjust and stated that ending these retirement tiers will be the defining fight of 2028.

A New Era for the UAW

Fain’s approach during the 2023 contract negotiations was instrumental in securing significant gains for UAW members. He highlighted that the contracts resulted in 17% wage increases for employees at the Detroit Three automakers since ratification. Now, he aims to build on that momentum by pushing for even more substantial improvements.

The UAW, once one of the most powerful labor unions in the United States, has seen its membership shrink over the years. At its peak in the 20th century, the union had over 1 million members. Today, it has around 375,000 active members. The union has also faced scrutiny due to a corruption scandal that led to the imprisonment of several former leaders and placed the UAW under federal monitorship.

Despite these challenges, Fain has worked to reshape the union’s image. He pointed to the success of the 2023 Stand Up Strike, which demonstrated the UAW’s ability to organize and win. “Two years ago, they said the UAW was irrelevant. They said we couldn’t win. They said we couldn’t organize, and they said we couldn’t strike,” Fain said. “Here we are, two years later, leading the labor movement.”

Membership Growth and Organizing Efforts

From 2023 to 2025, the UAW added 75,000 new members, according to Fain. This growth came from successful organizing drives at various workplaces across the country, including Cornell University and the BlueOval SK battery plant in Kentucky. These efforts have helped the union regain some of its former strength and influence.

However, not all UAW members support Fain’s leadership. A small group has attempted to bring administrative charges against him, alleging financial mismanagement and corruption. While this process faced a setback recently, the group plans to continue its efforts.

Political Stances and Future Priorities

During the town hall, Fain addressed questions about his political views. He was asked why he supports Democrats and why he supports President Donald Trump. Fain clarified that the UAW does not align with any single political party. “We aren’t Democrats, we aren’t Republicans, we are trade unionists,” he said.

Fain has supported Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris during the 2024 election and has expressed tentative support for tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. He believes that strategic tariffs can protect American manufacturing. However, he strongly criticized the Trump administration for its policies on mass deportations, tax cuts for the wealthy, and the weakening of labor protection agencies like the National Labor Relations Board and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

“We’ll call balls and strikes,” Fain said. “From day one.”