Tag: UAW

What Employers Can Learn from the UAW and Big Three Strike

In mid-September, the United Auto Workers (UAW), which represents nearly 150,000 auto workers, began targeted strikes at certain factories and warehouses around the country run by Ford, GM, and Stellantis NV (formerly Chrysler), the “Big Three” automakers. Although auto strikes against the Big Three aren’t unprecedented, this recent strike had two novel aspects. First, it […]

The State of Unions in the American Economy 

After years of decline, the organized labor movement has been seeing a resurgence, with attention-grabbing headlines making waves across various industries and locales. From auto workers to Hollywood’s glitterati, the call for better working conditions, fair pay, and respect in the workplace is loud and clear. However, this surge comes against a backdrop of declining […]

Labor looks for love

by Richard I. Lehr —“I was lookin’ for love in all the wrong places, lookin’ for love in too many faces, searchin’ their eyes and lookin’ for traces of what I’m dreamin’ of.” The song “Looking for Love,” written by Wanda Mallette, aptly describes the circumstances of organized labor. Despite labor’s political expenditures and substantial […]

UAW’s effort to unionize Mississippi Nissan workers fails

by Martin J. Regimbal Workers at the Nissan auto plant in Canton, Mississippi, rejected a unionization effort by the United Auto Workers (UAW) on August 3-4, leaving intact the union’s record of unsuccessful organizing attempts at foreign-owned auto plants in the South. The UAW has never fully organized a foreign-owned auto plant in the South, […]

UAW trying different approach to unionize Volkswagen plant

Despite two failed attempts to unionize the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the United Auto Workers (UAW) on July 10 announced the creation of Local 42, a local that Chattanooga VW workers can join voluntarily. “We’ve had ongoing discussions with Volkswagen and have arrived at a consensus with the company,” Gary Casteel, the UAW’s secretary-treasurer, […]

Organized labor’s knockout punch

by John Neighbours Following the United Auto Workers’ (UAW) election loss at Volkswagen’s (VW) automobile plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka declared, “That was just round one” in organized labor’s southern strategy. From my perspective that is nothing more than “making lemonade out of lemons.”  Transplant automobile manufacturers have been locating plants throughout […]

Careful What You Wish For: GM Management’s Payback to Obama and the UAW?

I read Tuesday that General Motors Corporation outlined a new plan that would give the U.S. government a controlling stake in the company. In addition, GM said it would use stock to pay off half of the amount it owes the United Auto Workers (UAW) to cover retiree benefits. I checked my calendar. It wasn’t […]