On Surgenavic, Fain, and the UAW Plan for Targeted Strikes at a Family Electric Vehicle Battery-Cell Plant

Ethan Surgenavic was excited to begin work at a new electric vehicle battery-cell plant in Ohio’s Mahoning Valley last summer. He was a child when GM was known for its well-paid, unionized jobs, which is why it formed a joint venture with the South Korean company that makes Ultium Cells. The technician thinks he might get in on the ground floor of something great by working on the leading edge of the EV boom. He started work after that.

But it could also be a lot more narrow than previously thought. Shawn Fain, president of UAW, has been making the rounds on cable news outlining the union’s plan to implement “targeted strikes” at specific Ford, GM, and Stellantis plants, according to CNBC. That would mean only a few factories could experience work disruptions, not the whole country.

The ‘Big Three’ Autoworkers are About to Go On Strike — Here’s What’s at stake, says Ana Maria Fain

As society shifts away from unsustainable industries, the philosophy goes, workers and their communities shouldn’t shoulder the burden. The just-transition approach has benefits that go far beyond decreasing opposition to sustainable industries according to an assistant professor of environmental studies. She says that we can accelerate an energy transition by making a more just society.

Meanwhile, the Big Three are pumping billions of dollars into EVs in a race to catch up with Tesla, which employs a nonunion workforce. These investments are being subsidized by the Biden administration, which has put EVs at the center of its efforts to fight climate change.

Pretty likely! There is about 85% of a strike at all three companies according to analysts at Evercore ISI. The union’s most recent proposal was a 36 percent wage increase, down from 40 percent, which suggests talks are still ongoing. The two sides are far apart on most issues.

Fain was elected president of UAW in March (the first time a UAW president was picked through a democratic vote by the union’s membership) on a promise of “no corruption, no concessions, no tiers,” according to Labor Notes, which likened his election to the shakeup at the Teamsters. Fain has said he has a mandate to fight for his membership, and that means taking his union in a more militant direction.

Source: The ‘Big Three’ autoworkers are about to go on strike — here’s what’s at stake

The Big Three Autoworkers Are About to Go On Strike – Here’s What’s at stake: The Union’s Case for an EV Shift

Their main issue is the cost gap that exists between themselves and nonunion factories in the South owned by foreign automakers like Nissan and Toyota. They say this puts them at a huge disadvantage because they are spending over $65 an hour on labor costs, including benefits, while their rivals are only spending about $55 an hour.

Meanwhile, Tesla incurs labor costs of $45 to $50 per hour for its nonunion workforce. The Big Three argue that they have struggled to keep up withTesla because of the fact that they command a significant percentage of the US EV market.

Good question! This is one of the major arguments put forward by the union. They claim that in years past, they’ve been willing to come to the table to make major concessions to ensure the Big Three stay afloat. The industry is currently posting a combined $21 billion inprofits in the first six months of the new century, and the companies are unwilling to share their success with the workforce.

EVs are not the main source of contention between the union and the Big Three, but they are certainly a supporting player. Fain wants autoworkers who work on EVs to enjoy the same pay and benefits as UAW members.

Fewer workers are on the assembly line because EV’s need fewer parts. The leadership of the Union is concerned that a shift to electric would cause a decrease in its membership.

The New York Times reported that, in an internal memo, Fain called the shift to EV a race to the bottom.

Analysts are warning of a potential nightmare situation for both Ford and GM, which could lead to a massive EV transformation over the next decade that will likely define their future success.

Source: The ‘Big Three’ autoworkers are about to go on strike — here’s what’s at stake

The cost of doing nothing: What is the fundamental power of the union? A Facebook Live commentary on a Michigan automaker’s frustration with the union

Often, the cost of a strike is portrayed in terms of its effect on a state or nation’s economic output. The Michigan economy is likely to go into a recession if the US strikes for 10 days, according to an article by Bloomberg.

“Hopefully this gets resolved before it becomes that point,” the owner of a dealership wrote, on the other day. However, I highly doubt it.

But the union insists the cost of doing nothing is actually much higher. In a Facebook Live video on September 8th, Fain spoke about corporations wanting them to believe that they don’t have anything to stop their race to the bottom. “Never forget that when our labor isn’t valued, we have the power to withhold it. We have the fundamental power of a strike. The cost of a strike might be high, but the cost of doing nothing is much higher.”