This story originally appeared in In These Times on Sept. 11, 2023. It is shared here with permission.

CHICAGO – Wearing ared United Auto Workers (UAW) t-shirt, Anastasia Gibson,48, is warm and polite, quick to flash abroad smile. But her anger rises when she talks about her sacrifices to Ford, which made $10.4billion in profits in2022. Gibson works10-hour shifts and injured her back on the job in2021.​“They don’t value anything we do. They want us to get as many cars off the line as wecan.”

Such anger was palpable among the roughly200workers who gathered alongside Gibson in the late afternoon of September6outside the UAW Local551union hall in far southeastern Chicago, not far from the Indiana border. They were there to practice rallying and chanting for apicket line, in preparation for apossible strike as soon as midnight on September14, when their union contract with Fordexpires.

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The golden sunshine slanted down on the crowd as it chanted,​“Record profits equal record contracts!” Speakers addressed the crowd, among them Congressman Frank Mrvan (D-Ind.) and UAW Region4director Brandon Campbell, who proclaimed,​“All they care about is their wealth and power. They’re too damnrich!”

Some of the union’s top demands are cost-of-living adjustments, an end to wage and benefit tiers based on hiring date, and an end to the mistreatment of temporaryworkers.

Those demands apply not just to Ford but to all the​“Big Three” automakers — Ford, General Motors and Stellantis North America (the parent company of Chrysler and Jeep). UAW’s contracts with all three, covering some146,000workers, run out at the same time, amomentous opportunity for joint labor action across employers from aunion that recently saw abig shift in leadership. Reform challenger Shawn Fainwonthe union presidency in March, calling for anew era of militancy, more democratic decision-making and neworganizing.

Fain has struck aconfrontational stance towards the Big Three automakers — and thewealthy class overall—criticizing the greed of corporate executives and making bold demands, like a32-hour work week with no reduced pay. Other demands Fain haspresentedto all of the Big Three include enhanced profit sharing, improved wages, more paid time off and the right to strike over plantsclosing.

And as the Biden administration subsidizes aboomin electric-vehicle manufacturing, the union also wants ajust transition to ensure electric vehicle jobs are good jobs and do not drive down laborconditions.

Workers at the Local551rally underscored thekey demandto cap the use of temporary workers, who make lower pay and are the lowest tier of workers, used by the company to suppress labor costs. UAW wants to temporary workers to become permanent workers after90days, with full benefits and profitsharing.

Under the2019contracts that are about to expire, it takestwo yearsfor atemporary employee to convert. This feels like an eternity for Erron Hall, atemporary worker who started at the Chicago Assembly Plant in late November2022, and is making just $16.67an hour. This wage is difficult, he says, with the​“cost of living goingup.”

“This is my first time dealing with astrike,” Hall says, holding asign that says​“United for aStrong Contract,” and wearing one of many red shirts in the crowd.​“It’s somethingnew.”

Other picket signs read​“End Tiers: No2ndClass Workers,” reflecting another top issue for workers. Those who were hired following the2007contract suffered lower wages and poorer benefits, including the complete loss of pensions, which were swapped out for401(k) accounts. The union wants afull restoration of pensions, abig issue for picketer Karla Hayes, ametal finisher who has been working at Ford for13years, starting after they took pensions away.​“I’m58with no pension,” shesays.

“When Itook this job, it was not atraditional job for women,” Hayes continues.” (Overhearing this, her coworker,39-year-old Robert Desmond, chimes in to say,​“She does one hell of ajob!”)

“I love my job,” Hayes says.​“I have pride. Iwant them to show they haverespect.”

UAW is also calling for more holidays and paid time off, which would be huge for Gibson. In her11years at Ford, Gibson says she has missed​“tons of things” with her six children — awards ceremonies, field trips. She’s hoarding days off in hopes of making her son’s high school graduation thisspring.

Polling shows that UAW workers have the overwhelming support of the public. AGallup pollreleasedon August30found that​“three in four Americans … side with the United Auto Workers in their negotiations with U.S. autocompanies.”

Ford worker Robert Kacher,39, is aself-described​“news junkie” who voted for Fain in the UAW presidential election. He read the poll online, but felt it viscerally when he marched in the Labor Day parade in Lowell, Ind. The crowd went wild when they saw the UAW contingent, he says.​“They were very supportive of what we were going todo.”

Some of this community support is organized. The Chicago chapter of Democratic Socialists of America mobilized members to attend another​“practice picket” on September8.

UAW Local551also attracted at least one international supporter. Helene Cavat, ateacher from France, happened to be visiting friends in Chicago the week of the practice picket, and decided to trek out to show her support. She is an active member of France’s General Confederation of Labour, and wanted to show her solidarity.​“We need more international exchanges,” she tellsme.

While the outcome of contract talks remains uncertain, the workers gathered outside of the Local551office are clearly preparing to strike if needed. After the rally, workers clustered together to talk logistics with astrike captain. Flyers announced where non-perishable food and toiletries can be dropped off, to help relieve hardship for striking families. The mood was urgent and friendly, acombination of getting serious business done and catching up withcoworkers.

Numerous workers Italked to say they are ready to do what’s necessary, in astruggle that has profound implications for their lives.​“This place works anumber on your body and soul,” says Anthony Romero, a32-year-old worker at the Chicago Assembly Plant and aveteran of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.​“That’s why I’mhere.”

Gibson describes herself as​“injured for life” from her2021workplace back injury, and estimates that amajority of her coworkers are in asimilar position.​“People here have carpal tunnel, rotator cuff injuries, back injuries. The work is hard and strenuous. There is wear andtear.”

For all that, the money just isn’t enough, she says.​“We are all really struggling. We’re in tough times. Prices are high. Going to the grocery store, you have to pick and choose what you eat.” Striking would make money even tighter, but she says she isready.

But Fain’s public call for a32-hour work week, whether it’s won in this contract or in the future, is her northstar.

Right now she works10-hour shifts, four days aweek, some of them overnight. It takes her afull day of not working to unwind, sheexplains.

“For me it would be amazing,” she says.​“It would allow me to get somerest.”

This article is ajoint publication of In These Times andWorkday Magazine, anon-profit newsroom devoted to holding the powerful accountable through the perspective ofworkers.