Why the UAW Is Digging in Against the Big Three Carmakers
A new generation of labor leaders are taking a harder line.
On September 14, the contract between the United Auto Workers and the Big Three carmakers (GM, Ford and Stellantis) is expiring — and the possibility of a strike is real. This comes at a delicate time for multiple reasons. The labor market is tight, which means workers have other options. Inflation is high. And the auto industry is undergoing a major shift to electric vehicles, which may change the composition and pay of the labor force. So the stakes are high. What does the union want and how does it fit into the goals of the broader labor market? To understand more, we speak with Dan Vicente, the director of UAW Region 9, as well as Alex Press, a labor reporter at Jacobin magazine. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.