According to Reuters, on November 16, Subaru CEO Atsushi Osaki stated to the media that, following the new labor agreement between the Big Three Detroit automakers and the United Auto Workers (UAW), Subaru will also raise wages and benefits for its U.S. factory workers.
Speaking at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Osaki mentioned that while the company has not determined the exact extent of pay increases for workers at its Lafayette assembly plant in Indiana, it will align with the industry standard set by the new labor agreements reached by UAW with General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis. Osaki revealed that the enhanced benefits would include improvements to healthcare and not just salary increases.
President Biden has consistently supported UAW's efforts to secure wage increases for its members, emphasizing that all U.S. auto workers should receive fair treatment.
In late October, UAW reached a record-breaking labor agreement with the Big Three Detroit automakers. Following this, Subaru and other non-unionized automakers in the U.S. face pressure to raise wages and benefits.
Non-unionized automakers operating in the U.S., including Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai, have also announced plans to increase wages for factory workers. On November 13, Hyundai stated that it would raise factory worker wages by 25% by 2028, aligning with the increases negotiated by UAW. Toyota plans to raise factory wages by 9% to 10% starting from January next year, and Honda has indicated an 11% increase during the same period.
UAW President Shawn Fain stated that "UAW" stands for "You Are Welcome" in response to the wage hikes at non-unionized factories. Fain pledged that UAW would actively work to organize unions at non-unionized U.S. factories of Tesla and other foreign automakers.
