Does the Auto Industry Need Political Assistance?

Are the politicians in Washington, D. C. needed to help the industry recover? There may be some ways they can lend a hand to the recovery.

Currently, automotive production has returned to its pre-virus level in North America, which is an incredible turnaround considering the shutdown that took place only months ago. There is a different problem facing automakers, and it’s one facing all industries.

A Flexible Workforce for Automakers is Hard to Find

Most people that work in an automotive factory have training regarding the job they do. Some are skilled workers with years of training and experience with specialized tools and equipment while others are nonskilled laborers that have been trained to do many tasks and do them well. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused automakers to need a flexible workforce to get the job done.

How has the Coronavirus Impacted the Auto Industry?

At first, when the virus arrived in North America, auto plants, along with many other industrial production plants, were shut down. The only plants that stayed open were those making specialized medical equipment such as ventilators or using fabric to make masks. Today, we see auto plants running at a fervent pace to try and catch up to the demand caused by the production stoppage from the spring.

While the incredible need for more cars is a good thing, most plants are facing a variable never seen before. Their workforce can’t make it to work every day because many are either without child care, waiting for a COVID-19 test result to return, or under quarantine due to this virus. To combat this problem, many plants are sending in their managerial staff to try and complete some of the tasks that need to be done.

What Can Politicians Do to Help?

Instead of the regular changing of the guard, which will take place in January, and a sudden switch in regulations for the auto industry, what politicians could do is protect the flexible workforce that’s needed to get the job done. Many auto plants are under fire by the UAW due to the use of white-collar workers that aren’t part of the union. Having nonunion employees doing union jobs has always been a sore spot for the UAW.

Flexibility and Togetherness are Needed in the Auto Industry

The fact that auto dealers were able to become flexible in their sales process during the pandemic has led to a shortage of cars on many lots. This means a similar level of flexibility is needed to make sure the auto industry can recover properly from the challenges they face. It’s going to take all workers together to produce the vehicles we want to drive in the future.

The auto industry does need the politicians to help if it’s going to make a complete recovery. One of the best ways politicians can help an industry that employs so many Americans is to make sure they support the efforts that allow the job to get done; at least until this pandemic is over.