This is a free excerpt from one of Shortform’s Articles. We give you all the important information you need to know about current events and more.
Don't miss out on the whole story. Sign up for a free trial here .
Does the public support the United Auto Workers union strike? Who does the strike affect the most?
More than 34,000 members of the United Auto Workers union have been on strike for over a month, halting production at key plants. Polls show strong public support for the striking workers, which suggests sentiment may be shifting toward unions in the US.
Continue reading for a background on the UAW strike and the opinions surrounding it.
The 2 Views on the UAW Strike
Polls show that public support remains firmly on the side of striking US auto workers, even as the prolonged work stoppage starts to take a toll on the economy. The United Auto Workers strike against Detroit’s Big Three automakers has entered its sixth week.
Background
More than 34,000 United Auto Workers (UAW) members have walked off the job since the union announced a strike in mid-September in response to unsatisfactory contract offers from General Motors (GM), Ford, and Stellantis (known for its Jeep, Ram, Dodge, and Chrysler brands). The union’s 150,000 members are demanding:
- A 36% raise over four years.
- The return of cost-of-living adjustments tied to inflation.
- Employer-paid health care for retirees.
- The elimination of employment tiers that give workers hired before 2007 better wages and benefits than those hired thereafter.
The targeted strikes have halted production at key plants and cost the Big Three, suppliers, dealers, and workers a total of $7.7 billion.
Polls Reveal Broad Public Support for the Strike
The UAW strike comes amid growing support for the labor movement as a whole and rising union activism—at a time of significant economic unease in the US.
- 76% of Americans reported, in an October CNN poll, that their sympathies lie with striking auto workers, while 23% said they side with auto manufacturers.
- Democrats back the UAW by a nearly 3-to-1 margin.
- Nearly half of surveyed Republicans say that UAW workers should be paid more—a rare show of support from the GOP, which has historically advocated pro-business policies.
Americans’ broad endorsement of better conditions for UAW workers may be rooted in a shared belief that it’s becoming harder to get ahead financially: 75% of Americans say it’s more difficult to advance economically now than a generation ago—a view held consistently across age, gender, and educational backgrounds, but that varies by race and political affiliation.
- 79% of white Americans feel it’s more difficult to get ahead financially, compared with 68% of Americans of color.
- 70% of Democrats feel things have gotten harder financially, compared with 82% of Republicans.
View 1: Workers Deserve Higher Wages
Strike supporters, including much of the general public and President Biden, who became the first sitting president to visit a picket line in solidarity with UAW workers, argue that auto workers deserve higher pay because:
- They’ve accepted years of concessions.
- Automakers are booking record profits.
- CEO compensation has soared as auto workers’ wages have declined.
View 2: The Strike Has Major Downsides for Automakers
Automakers, business groups, and some potential GOP candidates counter that UAW is demanding too much in negotiations. They contend the union’s requests could have devastating effects, including slowing EV production and undermining automakers’ ability to stay competitive. Former President Trump has claimed the union’s demands could lead automakers to move more auto jobs to China.
Looking Ahead
Experts say that although the outcome of the auto workers’ strike is uncertain, the UAW may have more leverage in contract negotiations than it’s had in years due to the broad public support for unions and ongoing hiring challenges faced by many businesses. If successful, the strike could inspire workers across industries to push for better working conditions and benefits.
Want to fast-track your learning? With Shortform, you’ll gain insights you won't find anywhere else .
Here's what you’ll get when you sign up for Shortform :
- Complicated ideas explained in simple and concise ways
- Smart analysis that connects what you’re reading to other key concepts
- Writing with zero fluff because we know how important your time is
