Strike FAQs and lessons from the General Motors strike of 2019.

There is power in numbers. That is the fundamental principle behind unionism. Combining our efforts with workers internationally has the potential to grow our influence as a movement exponentially. In this episode we discuss the importance of international solidarity with UAW Regional Directors Brandon Mancilla, Daniel Vicente and Assistant Director Raymond Jensen Jr.

We discuss the impending electric vehicle transition and it's effect on autoworkers. We also discuss how reducing work hours could be the key to both addressing job losses and increasing our quality of life.

For those interested in reading more on the 30 for 40 movement I recommend checking out Johnathan Cutler’s book “Labor’s Time: Shorter Hours, the UAW and the Struggle for American Unionism” It's particularly good in audiobook format for those long days in the shop. All our sources are listed below. If you’d like a reminder about our upcoming podcasts please email us at unitygainspodcast@gmail.com and make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.

References:

https://www.epi.org/publication/ev-policy-workers/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/09/14/fact-sheet-president-bidens-economic-plan-drives-americas-electric-vehicle-manufacturing-boom/

https://www.autonews.com/executives/gm-ceo-mary-barras-2022-compensation-29m

https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2023/05/05/uaw-joe-biden-shawn-fain-president-endorsement/70183759007/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haymarket_affair

https://www.epi.org/productivity-pay-gap/

https://money.cnn.com/gallery/news/economy/2013/07/10/worlds-shortest-work-weeks/index.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avZHdp0u2YM&t=1s

Show notes:

Wayne State University Labor School program:

https://labor.wayne.edu/labor-school

Region 1 classes:

https://region1.uaw.org/education/online-classes

https://region1.uaw.org/education/about-our-education-program

Labor Notes, How to Strike and Win:

https://www.labornotes.org/strikes

Big thanks to our friend @Weathercitizen Who remixed the classic labor song Solidarity Forever (originally written by Ralph Chaplin in 1915) for our intro music! @Weathercitizen also helped us a great deal in getting set up and showing us the ropes for recording our first episode. Thanks @Weathercitizen!

References:

• On labor costs (the PR games the company plays to hurt workers in the media and gain public sympathy to undercut workers)
  • https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/17/labor-costs-for-detroit-automakers-expected-to-increase-by-up-to-1b.html
  • https://www.wxyz.com/money/auto-news/uaw-labor-cost-per-gm-vehicle-is-5-so-why-is-the-strike-in-day-29

• COLA /CPI
  • https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIAUCSL
  • https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=169000&year1=201901&year2=202303