UAW called for unions to synchronize contract expirations on May 1, 2028. How can we harness this compression point to coordinate our movements?
By Stephanie Luce, Convergence
The Trump Administration has come in with brute force, attacking working people and institutions from all angles. Their “flood the zone” strategy has left many feeling confused and powerless. But MAGA forces are not unstoppable. Strong coalitions among labor and social movement organizations offer one of the best hopes for blocking the rise of white Christian nationalist forces, and for countering authoritarianism with progressive power.
In Fall 2023, United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain called for unions around America to align their contracts with a May 1, 2028 expiration date, in order to align with the UAW’s next round of bargaining with the Big Three: Ford, General Motors (GM), and Chrysler (now Stellantis). This was, in part, a call for class solidarity: to bring workers together across unions, labor and social movements, and geography. It was also an acknowledgment that some of the biggest demands that UAW members have–strong pensions and healthcare–cannot be won alone. Workers will need to build broad alliances that can leverage greater pressure on employers and the state.
Over the last year, Fain’s call has spread. Unions, base-building organizations, and political organizations are talking about how they can use May 1, 2028 as a compression point: bringing together a broad coalition of groups with bold demands, to share collaborative corporate campaigns and electoral work.
Long-time labor organizer, strategist, and In These Times Executive Director Alex Han coined the term “Plan 2028,” which highlights the need to plan for such a coordinated action. There is a need to build power, grow our impact, and increase our capacity through elections, issue and/or policy campaigns, and street heat in the buildup to May 2028. But we can’t wait until 2028 to take action! “Plan 2028” can begin with May Day 2025.
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