Odd Lots What the UAW Wants From Its Fight With the Big Three
Aug 7, 2023
Dan Vicente, Director of UAW Region 9, advocates for autoworkers in the Northeast, while Alex Press covers labor movements for Jacobin magazine. They discuss the urgent contract expiration between the UAW and Big Three automakers, underscoring the push for fair wages amid a crucial shift to electric vehicles. The conversation dives into tiered pay structures, the rising activism among younger workers, and the collective struggle against corporate greed. They explore how these dynamics shape the future of labor rights in an evolving industry.
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From Shop Floor to Leadership
- Dan Vicente, newly elected UAW Region 9 director, shared his recent experience working on the shop floor.
- His transition highlights workers' sentiment that the traditional path to the middle class is disappearing.
Tiered Wages and Concessions
- Tiered wages, introduced during the recession, created pay disparities based on hiring date.
- Workers accepted these concessions initially to save auto manufacturers, expecting to regain lost benefits over time.
Corrosive Effects of Tiering
- Tiered wage systems erode trust among coworkers due to unequal pay for equal work.
- This resentment can hinder union organizing and exacerbate existing inequalities based on race and gender.