UAW to GM: Taking our healthcare is sickening

Monday night, as workers from nearly 70 facilities in 19 states were standing on the picket lines, GM chose to terminate their health coverage immediately. The company’s decision was made without any warning to the UAW, leaving more than 48,000 members and their families at risk of being suddenly uninsured.

Laura Prater, a UAW-GM worker at GM’s Springhill plant, woke up in a hospital bed and instead of focusing on her recovery had to worry about whether her insurance was still in place. Watch Video

UAW Local 2164 President Jack Bowers says he thinks the decision is “low.” “It’s pretty bad. I mean, traditionally, they’ve not done that,” Bowers told WKU Public Radio. “We’ve got people out there that need insulin. That’s a lot of money for anybody. I think it’s kind of wrong. That’s the nicest word I can think of right now.”

The UAW activated the strike fund as soon as they became aware of GM’s strategic decision to cut healthcare.

“GM’s failed attempt to hurt our members and force us into a bad agreement was cold, heartless, and immoral. One minute they say they care about their workers and next GM is cutting off people’s lifeline. We will not allow our members and their families to experience the added burden of worrying about their health coverage while on strike. We are united. We’re organized. And we are in solidarity as we fight for a strong deal that provides middle-class wages, affordable healthcare, job security, a fair share of GM’s record profits and a better deal for temporary workers,” said Brian Rothenberg, UAW Spokesman.

