STREETSBORO, Ohio — For Ladaryon Williams, picketing outside the Stellantis plant in Streetsboro is a family affair, because in the grand scheme of things, the outcome will impact everyone.
"You know, I don't want to be here, but I have to be here, and the main objective is to get better pay so I can raise my family in a better way," Williams said.
He's been in the UAW since 2016, starting as a temp worker and says the pay disparities between employees who are put into a "tiered system" is part of the reason he's on the line today.
"It's kind of hurtful working next to a guy doing the same job making half the pay. You know? I'm staying in an apartment this guy is staying in a house, how fair is that?" Williams said.
In Streetsboro, they're going on 2 weeks of striking, but two hours West in Toledo, they're going on three and Saturday, National UAW President Shawn Fain stopped by to raise spirits and encourage those striking.
"They want to put the fear out there that if we get what we're asking for it's going to kill the businesses, kill the companies," Fain said. "No it's not, every time workers ask for their fair share it's the end of the world, but these millionaires, these CEOs, nobody asks a question, nobody asks what's wrong with this."
Both the Toledo and Streetsboro plants are Stellantis and according to Fain, it's the one company out of the Big Three they are making progress with.
That means this week no more Stellantis plants went on strike, giving workers like Williams hope.
"It makes me feel better but it just doesn't make me feel at ease yet, we won't be satisfied until we get what we deserve," Williams said.