What is the UAW and who are they striking against? Where?
The UAW (United Auto Workers) is a union consisting of 400,000 active members and over double that in retired members. They are striking against the “Big main three” automotive companies; GM (known for producing Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac), Ford, and Stellantis (Known for Jeep, Dodge, and Chrysler). They have been striking at three plants in Ohio, Missouri, and Michigan.
What is the strike about?
Members of United Auto Workers are striking for several reasons. The president of United Auto Workers says their demands are, “bold,” and members continue to strike for better benefits for both new workers and veteran workers. After the 2008 financial crisis, the union was forced to give up things like cost-of-living adjustments, which protected workers’ income when it came to inflation. Other things the UAW is striking for are wage increases, increased benefits for retirees, a reduced work week, more paid time off and the right to strike over plant closure.
What can we expect to see because of this strike?
In the grand scheme of things, the national economy probably would not be hit hard. If the strikes were to last long enough, only the three companies, Ford, GM, and Stellantis would see drops in profit and productivity. This is to be expected of course. If the strike were to last more than a couple of months, these companies would fall behind on car sales and parts, but there are, of course, other companies to fill that void.