The United Auto Workers (UAW) union is currently negotiating with General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis for a new four-year contract. The UAW is seeking big raises and better benefits, pointing to CEO pay raises and profits that the three companies have raked in recent years. Here are some of the demands made by the UAW:

• 36% pay increase: The UAW is asking for a 36% pay increase across a four-year contract.
• End to varying tiers of wages: The UAW has demanded an end to varying tiers of wages for factory jobs.
• 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay: The UAW is demanding a four-day workweek, working 32 hours for 40 hours of pay, and more time off "to spend with family".
• Defined-benefit pensions: The UAW wants the companies to restore defined-benefit pensions that workers previously received and to pay all the health-care costs for retirees.
• Return of cost-of-living pay raises: The UAW is demanding a return of cost-of-living pay raises, among other benefits.
• Health care for all retired UAW members: The union is seeking health care for all retired UAW members. Workers hired before 2007 still have those benefits, but those hired since – a majority of hourly workers – do not.
• Limit use of temporary workers: The UAW is demanding that the automakers limit their use of temporary workers, who under the tiered-wage system receive the least pay and no benefits.

The union and automakers have drawn closer in their demands and offers for a new contract but are still far enough apart to prevent a deal.