A few days after his election, Fain told the automakers that the UAW was "fed up with the status quo". During 2023 contract renegotiations, Fain advocated for an immediate wage increase of 20 percent for workers followed by yearly gradual increases for a total of 46 percent, which he argues would simply be a way to keep up with the enormous CEO wage increases of auto companies in recent decades. The UAW has since lowered the demanded increase to 36 percent. Fain is also calling for the end of tiered wages and benefits, and the roll-back of concessions made by the UAW during the
2008 financial crisis, including the reinstatement of cost-of-living adjustments and robust pensions. Fain's hard line stance during contract renegotiations contributed to the union's decision to begin the 2023 United Auto Workers strike on September 15. It is the first time in the UAW's 88-year history that the union has launched a simultaneous strike against the
Big Three automakers. Fain has garnered significant attention for his unorthodox approach to organizing, with analyst Daniel Ives telling
Reuters, "This is not your grandfather's UAW ... Fain is playing this like a chess player. He's leading 21st century negotiations for unions". Fain has embraced social media platforms during the negotiations, publishing short form documentary style videos. In a livestream from early August 2023, Fain can be seen throwing an offer from automaker
Stellantis into a waste basket, stating: "That's where it belongs – in the trash – because that's what it is". In September 2023, he said "The September strikes are so far proving effective, and should give employers second thoughts." == 2023 mass auto organizing drive ==