COMMENTARY
The United Auto Workers union, has entered a new era. The Detroit-based UAW, founded in 1935, is emerging from its own big changes.
The union was once seen as one of the cleanest, best-run labor organizations. Leaders such as Walter Reuther, Leonard Woodcock, and Douglas Fraser consisted of a “statesman” group. They weren’t just union leaders. They were at the forefront of the civil rights movement and other issues. The UAW stood for the advancement of broader social goals.
That was when General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler dominated the U.S. vehicle market. As that generation receded, the UAW had to deal with a time when international automakers such as Toyota, Honda and Nissan grabbed big chunks of the U.S. market.
Later UAW officials such as Owen Bieber, Stephen Yokich, and Ron Gettelfinger had to confront a new reality. It didn’t help that the UAW had difficulty organizing U.S. factories of the international automakers.
More recently, later UAW leaders, such as Dennis Williams and Gary Jones, became part of scandals. The UAW, once viewed as one of the best U.S. unions, now had a corrupt image.
Because of the union scandals, UAW members could now vote directly for union president. Previously, delegates at a union convention made that choice.
This month, incumbent union president Ray Curry lost to a reform candidate, Shawn Fain. The new UAW president has called for a tougher negotiating stance with GM, Ford and Stallantis (the parent company of the former Chrysler).
The new UAW leadership is taking office as the Detroit automakers confront the biggest industry changes in more than a century. The auto industry is shifting to more electric vehicles. There are new players such as Tesla (which also has resisted unionization). Automakers are using profits from trucks and SUVs to finance their investments in EVs. Yet, there is a lot of uncertainty.
This week, the UAW conducted its bargaining convention. New UAW leader Fain signaled the union would take a tougher stance against automakers in upcoming negotiations.
“We are united to serve you,” Fain said. “Now, we’re here to come together to ready ourselves for the war against our one and only true enemy: multibillion dollar corporations and employers that refuse to give our members their fair share.”
You can see Fain’s speech at THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO From the UAW.
“It’s a new day in the UAW,’ Fain added. “We’re choosing to fight.”
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