Striking members of UAW 168 at Revere Copper in New Bedford, Mass., will be among the first to benefit from the increase in strike benefits.

The UAW strike benefits increased to $175 a week effective August 1.

The UAW International Executive Board decided to increase the benefits by $25 a week to help striking members announced UAW President Stephen P. Yokich.

Yokich also announced that strike pay would increase to $200 per week on August 1, 2002.

"With the strike fund in such good shape, we decided we should take this step to help members on the front lines," said UAW Secretary-Treasurer Ruben Burks, who directs the UAW Strike Assistance Dept.

To get strike assistance, which begins the second week of a strike, members must be in good standing on the day before a strike begins. They must also be on the active payroll.

The strike fund also provides life insurance, transition, bridge, and basic group medical-hospital insurance to strikers who participate in assigned strike activity.

Yokich and Burks sent out an administrative letter to all UAW locals explaining the strike assistance revisions.

Though many unions do not provide any strike benefits, the UAW’s strike fund has contributed to the union’s bargaining strength and strong record of accomplishments.