U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Stands With Striking Auto Workers In Falls Twp.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey joined striking workers at the General Motors Parts Distribution Center in Falls Township on Tuesday.

Casey, a Democrat, showed his support for the nationwide strike by the United Auto Workers (UAW).

Thousands of UAW members have taken to picket lines across the country, and Casey’s visit underscored his support for the strike, which began in mid-September.

The state’s senior senator’s show of solidarity in Falls Township coincided with President Joe Biden’s meeting with strikers in the Detroit area.

“All these workers are asking for is basic fairness. These workers created some of the strongest companies in the works, and they’ve got to be able to share appropriately in that,” Casey said.

The senator called on his colleagues in Washington D.C. to support the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which he said would strengthen workers’ rights.

The senator said that workers not getting fair wages in union and non-union jobs have led to some of the divisions in the country.

Rainy weather did little to deter Casey or the strikers outside the distribution center.

Ryan Piper, a local UAW member who is on strike, said the strikers just want a fair deal as General Motors brings in massive amounts of money and increases pay for the CEO.

“[General Motors] isn’t sharing the goods while we’re out here doing all the hard work, pressing every day, Piper said. “I’m a hustler, and I handle my business. I come to work every day on time.”

“We’re not here to be greedy. We’re here to do good for our families and sustain,” he added.

Piper said it was good to be on the picket with his co-workers and to have Casey stop by.

Passerbys in the Levittown area have been very supportive of the strikers, he said.

The strike in Falls Township began last Friday when 85 employees at the facility walked off the job.

Like UAW workers across across the nation, the local workers are urging automotive industry leaders to address critical issues, notably the demand for better wages in response to rising inflation. The union is calling for enhanced retirement benefits, including the return of pensions and healthcare offerings. One of the requests from the union is a significant 46 percent wage increase along with a reduced 32-hour work week.

Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, the industry’s biggest names, have extended proposals to address the workers’ demands, but the union has rejected the offers.

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