[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 171 (Wednesday, October 18, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5090]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 412--SUPPORTING THE NEARLY 150,000 UNITED AUTO 
WORKERS CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS WITH THE 
                        ``BIG THREE'' AUTOMAKERS

  Mr. SANDERS (for himself, Mr. Brown, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Warren, Mr. 
Fetterman, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Reed, 
Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Smith, Mr. Markey, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Wyden, Mr. 
Whitehouse, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Peters, Mr. Hickenlooper, Ms. Klobuchar, 
Mr. Welch, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Casey, Mr. 
Booker, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Heinrich, Ms. Butler, Mr. Cardin, Mrs. 
Gillibrand, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Bennet, and Mr. Warnock) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 412

       Whereas the United Auto Workers (referred to in this 
     preamble as ``UAW'') are on strike for better wages, 
     benefits, and working conditions at the Big Three automakers 
     (General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford);
       Whereas the Big Three automakers have made $21,000,000,000 
     in profits over the first 6 months of 2023, an increase of 80 
     percent from the same time period last year;
       Whereas the Big Three automakers have made $250,000,000,000 
     in profits over the past decade in North America;
       Whereas the Big Three automakers are providing their Chief 
     Executive Officers with exorbitant compensation packages, 
     while autoworkers continue to fall further and further 
     behind;
       Whereas the average wage for an autoworker has decreased by 
     30 percent over the past 20 years, after adjusting for 
     inflation;
       Whereas the Big Three spent $9,000,000,000 last year on 
     stock buybacks and dividends, while the average starting wage 
     at these companies is just $17 an hour;
       Whereas many UAW members today cannot afford to buy the 
     cars they make and struggle to afford the basic necessities 
     of life, including groceries, housing, child care, and 
     prescription drugs;
       Whereas UAW members are fighting against corporate greed 
     and to finally receive a fair share of the record-breaking 
     profits that their labor has produced, including for cost-of-
     living adjustments, an end to the 2-tier wage system, and the 
     restoration of pension benefits; and
       Whereas, since the passage of the National Labor Relations 
     Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) in 1935, it is the clear policy 
     of the United States to encourage collective bargaining and 
     protect the fundamental right of workers to seek better 
     working conditions: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) stands with the United Auto Workers in their fight 
     against corporate greed;
       (2) supports every worker's fundamental right to organize 
     and collectively bargain for better wages, benefits, and 
     working conditions; and
       (3) calls on the Big Three automakers--General Motors, 
     Stellantis, and Ford--to negotiate in good faith and offer 
     their workers a fair contract.

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