Home Care In Carrollton, TX

On day twelve of the auto workers' strike North Texas auto workers organized a caravan and rally, joining forces with those demanding change.

The group gathered at the Chrysler Parts Distribution Center off East Belt Line Road in Carrollton. Organizers told NBC 5 they want to apply pressure for their demands.

In red shirts, with signs and bullhorns, their chants Tuesday night were loud and clear.

Workers for GM, Ford and Stellantis are demanding a 40% pay raise over four years, among other demands, including restoration of traditional pension plans for newer workers, and a 32-hour work week for 40 hours of pay.

Organizer Pauline Mims is the Labor Council UAW representative for Tarrant County and works at the GM plant in Arlington. She's been with the company for more than 20 years and said a lot was sacrificed around the time of the 2008 auto industry bailout. Mims said it’s now time to reap the reward of years of hard work.

“Mortgages have gone up, everything has gone up, and yet our pay has stayed stagnant,” Mims said. “The companies have continued to make money and grow, and yet leave us paycheck-to-paycheck. At one point it was a great job to have, and now currently it's just a job.”

GM, Ford and Stellantis have been responsive throughout the entire process. Each company released recent statements that read in part:

GM said it has presented five record proposals, saying in part, “Our focus is not on politics but continues to be on bargaining in good faith with the UAW leadership to reach an agreement as quickly as possible.”

Ford, in a statement, said they are going to be the ones to “solve this by finding creative solutions to tough issues together at the bargaining table.”

For its part, Stellantis pointed it its track record, saying it has offered wage increases that top 20% and "requires a balanced agreement that fairly rewards its workforce without significantly disadvantaging the company.”

The companies have said they must be able to continue to invest profits in a costly transition from gas-powered cars to electric vehicles.

Economists say the strike has already exceeded $1.6 billion in economic impact.

"In negotiations, you're going to reach a little bit," said J. Carlos Martinez, a professor at Dallas College and economist with Crescent Securities Group, Inc. "So, I would probably say the 32-hour workweek is probably off the table, I would think, resuming the pension for new employees probably off the table. But wage increase and cost of living, I think are on the table."

Workers at a Stellantis distribution center in Carrollton joined a nationwide strike demanding increased wages, enhanced job security and improved conditions for temporary workers.

Employees at a General Motors parts distribution center in Roanoke and another at a Stellantis distribution center in Carrollton are the latest to join the strike against the major companies.

These workers are uniting with approximately 12,700 of their fellow colleagues across three assembly plants situated in Missouri, Ohio and Michigan, broadening the scope of a strike that was initiated over a week ago. The strike expanded to encompass workers at 38 different locations spanning across 20 states, primarily in distribution centers.

“This will impact these two companies’ repair operations,” United Auto Workers union president Shawn Fain said during a Facebook live video. “Our message to the consumer is simple. The way to fix the frustrating customer experience is for the companies to end price gouging — invest these record profits into stable jobs and sustainable wages and benefits.”

According to AP, only 12% of the union's membership is participating in the strike. The UAW possesses the potential to significantly increase the number of workers involved in the strike, potentially affecting assembly plants and parts facilities operated by General Motors, Ford and Stellantis.

One of the central points under discussion in the negotiations revolves around the need for increased wages, bolstered job security, fair treatment of temporary workers and the elimination of the existing "tier-based" pay systems within these companies. Fain expressed optimism in the live video, noting that there has been some headway regarding tiered wages. However, he also emphasized that achieving a resolution will require substantial effort and pressure on the part of both GM and Stellantis.

On Sept. 15, 2023, General Motors released a statement about the initiation of the strike at the first three assembly plants.

“We are disappointed by the UAW leadership’s actions, despite the unprecedented economic package GM put on the table, including historic wage increases and manufacturing commitments,” the statement said. “We will continue to bargain in good faith with the union to reach an agreement as quickly as possible for the benefit of our team members, customers, suppliers and communities across the U.S.”

President Joe Biden showed support for those participating in the strike and will join the workers against the automakers. He is set to arrive in Michigan on Sept. 26, days before Donald Trump is set to give his own speech in Michigan.

CARROLLTON (CBSNewsTexas.com) — A dangerous situation during Wednesday night's heavy rain is bringing attention to flash flooding on a section of I-35E in Carrollton.

TxDOT crews worked Thursday to clear out clogged storm drains that are believed to be responsible for high water overtaking some vehicles, but standing water remains around the sides of the interstate—between Crosby and Belt Line roads.

Videos posted by drivers navigating through what some called a swimming pool captured stalled cars and others almost floating through several feet of water.

"The litter that you throw out your window does end up in the storm drains and that can be a factor when we're dealing with heavy rains and clogged storm drains," said TxDOT spokesman Tony Hartzel.

He also said the concrete barriers that run alongside lanes of traffic have openings at the bottom to drain water and do not contribute to the problem as some drivers may think.

"The water does come off the roadways in periods of heavy rain...those concrete barriers have no factor on whether water collects on the roadway," Hartzel said.

CBS News Texas has been told construction is about to begin on a $750 million redesign of I-35E from Dallas to Denton, which will prevent scenes like what Carrollton saw Wednesday night from happening again.

J.D. Miles

J.D. Miles is an award-winning reporter who has been covering North Texas for CBS 11 since 1996.

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It was World Series media day at Globe Life Field Thursday.

Dozens of media members from around the country were there to interview players from the and Diamondbacks.

"You know the whole world is watching and this place is going to be rocking, just want to perform well," Rangers 2nd baseman Marcus Semiem said.

The Rangers have been on this stage twice, but have fallen short of the ultimate goal.

They now have home field advantage, hosting the first two games and the final two games, if necessary.

"This is really cool, this is a lot of fun. A couple of days off, you wish it was already here," Rangers outfield Evan Carter said.

Rangers players chat about making it to World Series

Game 1 of the World Series between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks starts in about 12 hours in Arlington. The players got a chance to share their thoughts about making it this far as part of a media day event at Globe Life Field.

Outside Globe Life Field, crews worked all day to change the ALCS signage to World Series images.

The team store will also have a pop-up shop in the plaza outside of the stadium, selling merchandise with the World Series logo on it.

North Texas is a familiar place for Diamondbacks shortstop Jordan Lawlar.

The rookie from Carrollton played for Jesuit High School.

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Some of the players and coaches on the Arizona Diamondbacks have connections to Texas and the Rangers.

"My phone has been blowing up with all the friends and coaches. Hopefully I will be able to see them up in the stands in one of these games," Lawlar said.

[REPORTER: "How likely did you think you would, not only be in the World Series, but playing in your backyard?"]

"If you told me that in April this year, starting the year in AA, I would give it a 0% chance. But we are here now and that’s all that matters," he said.

The first game of the series will be Friday night, as the Rangers look to get four more wins to make history.

DALLAS (CBSNewsTexas.com) — The Dallas Stars boosted the spirits of one of its biggest fans before Monday night's game at the American Airlines Center.

The team and a Carrollton teenager are trying to raise awareness of childhood cancer through a special clothing collaboration.

Back in May, Jayden Simmons was playing baseball and trying to regain his childhood robbed by four bouts of bone cancer and the loss of his right leg below the knee.

He had hoped the worst was behind him.

"Probably a week after, I started to feel like excruciating pain in my leg," Simmons explained.

That pain he felt in June led to more bad news.

"There's tumors all around in my leg so I'm not able to walk around," he said.

But the prognosis hasn't broken his spirit.

"They said I would probably have six more months or a year left to live, and they say I'm doing much better than I was before," Simmons said. "So, I don't think that's the right prediction there."

The 15-year-old is in a wheelchair as he battles cancer once again, but nothing could stop him from being all smiles at the AAC when one Dallas Star after another thanked him for helping design a special T-shirt and knit cap the team wore during a morning skate.

"Oh my gosh, it's very exciting," said Simmons of meeting Stars captain Jamie Benn. "He walked up to me, shakes my hand and goes, 'Jamie,' and I'm like, 'You don't need to tell me who you are.'"

The shirts and hat are part of a campaign to raise childhood cancer awareness, and are being sold online by Salood to raise money for an organization that helps families financially impacted like Simmons'.

"It just really brightened his day," said Simmons' mother Ashley Selby-Karney. "Maybe gave him something to look forward to. We've been working on this for maybe a couple of months now. It was just really a lot of hard news this year. This is something super fun and super great for him to do."

The shirt Simmons designed has got Dallas Stars on the front and on the back, an image he helped create.

When asked what he contribued, he said, "Right here is me actually on the ice and my purple prosthetic."

His friends later joined him out on the plaza where his Hockey Fights Cancer collection was on full display.

Afterward, he was gifted a new Stars jersey and watched the game right behind the glass, where some of the toughest athletes in sports competed with one of the toughest teenagers cheering them on.

You can check out the collection here.

J.D. Miles

J.D. Miles is an award-winning reporter who has been covering North Texas for CBS 11 since 1996.

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