KANSAS CITY, Kan. — With the slogan, “Saving the American Dream,” UAW Local 31 members and various community supporters gathered in solidarity on Tuesday, March 17 to draw attention toward Emotiv Mobility’s recent layoffs of three women of color — one of which occurred on March 17.
Emotiv Mobility — a third party logistics and assembly provider for the automotive and emergency medical services industries, according to its website — located in Kansas City, Kan. Fairfax Industrial District, laid off three of its female employees, leading its neighbors down the road to organize and host a walking strike in support.
“The workers at Emotiv came to the UAW and wanted to start their own union. They want to join UAW local 31, and as a result, Emotiv fired one of the lead organizers, actually multiple lead organizers,” said Dontay Wilson, UAW local 31 President, in a previous interview with “Peoples World.”
Attendees included UAW Region 4 Director Brandon Campbell — who had traveled to UAW Local 31 from out of state — along with UAW locals and external union-member allies.
The event on March 17 came to fruition with the help of Sharon Gilliam, who shared that in December, she was employed with Emotiv through a temporary service. Gilliam said that she often served as a translator and spokeswoman for other female African Emotiv employees who may have needed assistance with language and religious accommodations, among others, within the organization.
As Gilliam had previous union experience and connections with UAW Local 31, when her coworkers were interested in starting a union, she shared that she was familiar with the process and went to UAW to inquire about starting a union for her fellow Emotiv coworkers.
However, along with Gilliam, two other Emotiv employees’ contracts were terminated for their organizing efforts, leading UAW Local 31 to “stand up and fight back” for their neighbors.
This protest began at UAW Local 31’s location on Wednesday, with attendees making their way on foot to Emotiv’s headquarters.
“I would like people to know they have rights with or without a union,” Gilliam said in an interview.
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Julia Williams — a Kansas City native — is a reporter and digital producer for The Labor Beacon. A University of Missouri School of Journalism alumna, she previously served as the editor-in-chief of The Northeast News before joining The Labor Beacon staff.
Williams’s grandfather was a Claycomo Ford Motor Company retiree and avid UAW Local 249 supporter, allowing her to understand the union difference from a young age.
In her free time, Williams enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to see her friends and hanging out at home with her cat, Greta. She loves a good cup of coffee, seeing local, live music and shopping secondhand. With a passion for storytelling, she hopes to bring her knowledge of journalistic integrity to the Kansas City union community — giving union and labor workers a voice, while holding people in powerful positions accountable.
