Legislator Timothy Meyers, a Teamsters Local 264 member, is primary sponsor

Buffalo, NY – At Thursday’s legislative session, the Erie County Legislature passed a resolution in support of the United Auto Workers (UAW) who are engaged in a strike against General Motors (GM).  Legislator Timothy Meyers, D-Cheektowaga, was the primary sponsor of the resolution.

UAW workers at GM have been on strike since September 16^th . Locally, more than 3,000 employees have been affected and nationally, the UAW has nearly 48,000 members who have been out of work.  While GM has reported billions of dollars in profits annually recently, many workers have remained on “temporary” status indefinitely without the traditional benefits of full-time employment.  Both sides are actively negotiating a compromise.

“As a union member myself, I know the benefit of organizing and demanding fair wages and benefits for all.  Without unions, we have no middle class. All of Western New York has benefitted from the work done by the UAW Local 774 members at the GM Tonawanda Powertrain Plant. I will always stand with organized labor and the hardworking men and women who make up their membership,” said Legislator Meyers.

The resolution urged improved conditions, fair wages, and the transfer of employees currently considered “temporary” to permanent status. Certified copies have been sent to Local UAW President J.R. Baker and the Tonawanda GM plant manager.