Following recent successful negotiations with the Detroit Three automakers, the United Auto Workers (UAW) has launched an unprecedented public campaign to organize workers at over a dozen nonunion automakers across the United States. The initiative, involving thousands of autoworkers, aims to unionize nearly 150,000 employees across 13 automakers. The organizing process involves workers signing union cards on the UAW’s website, leading to public announcements and rallies as milestones are reached. The United Auto Workers is also promoting the effort with a video on social media highlighting the benefits of union membership. United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain emphasizes the success of organized workers in the Big Three automakers and urges nonunion autoworkers to seek similar benefits.
As reported by the Detroit Free Press, the UAW executed a targeted Stand-Up strike against the Detroit carmakers from Sept. 15 to Oct. 30, resulting in 4½-year contracts with a 25% base wage increase, COLA restoration, new plant investments, and more. While the United Auto Workers has previously attempted to organize nonunion U.S. auto factories, mainly those built by Asian and European automakers in Southern right-to-work states, this recent success has prompted reactions from nonunion automakers.
How Washington And The United Auto Workers Are Ruining The U.S. Auto Industry
Automobile Companies have a Take:
In response to the UAW’s agreements with the Detroit Three, some foreign automakers, such as Toyota and Hyundai, raised wages by 9% to 25%. However, UAW President Shawn Fain highlights that nonunion autoworkers still lag significantly behind in wages, benefits, and job rights. The United Auto Workers is actively campaigning for unionization, citing strong efforts at Toyota’s Georgetown, Kentucky, assembly complex. Workers there express concerns about health benefits despite the wage increase and emphasize the need for a union contract for fair treatment. While Toyota did not immediately comment on the UAW’s efforts, other automakers, including Hyundai, Nissan, Mazda, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, Lucid, and Rivian, have not responded to requests for comment as of Wednesday.
Honda, in an email statement, asserts that its approach of teamwork, respect, open communication, competitive wages, and benefits has contributed to the success and stability of its U.S. production operations, and it does not believe an outside party, like a union, would enhance the employment experience for its associates.
Honda’s Success in the US:
In response to queries, Chris Abbruzzese, spokesperson for American Honda Motor Co., stated that Honda’s success in growing its U.S. production operations over the past 40 years has been based on teamwork, respect, open communication, competitive wages, and benefits. Honda believes that an outside party, like a union, would not enhance the employment experience for its associates or improve upon the company’s outstanding track record of success and employment stability in America.
