Crisis or Opportunity? Nonunion Autoworkers Weigh UAW’s Recent Strike

Could the UAW expand as nonunion autoworkers see the results of the recent labor strike, or will it scare many of them to avoid organizing?

The United Auto Workers went on strike in September in an unprecedented, Big Three complete strike at General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis plants. This got the attention of the nation, but some autoworkers at nonunion plants paid much closer attention to the negotiations and progress of the strike than most other people around the country, including those involved in the strikes. It seems the feeling about unionizing additional plants was met with divided concerns and feelings.

How many autoworkers went on strike?

Shawn Fain has been the UAW President for less than a year, but he’s already organized a labor strike of nearly 25,000 union members across five plants and 40 parts and distributor locations. This action caught the attention of the entire country. Part of the attention paid has to do with the demands expected, including large pay raises and an end to tiered pay.

Only the Big Three automakers are unionized in the United States. This has given other automakers, including Nissan, Hyundai, Toyota, and Nissan, a competitive advantage in vehicle pricing. Those automakers have lower-cost workforces, but if the UAW is successful in securing its demands, that could change quickly.

The UAW reports many nonunion workers have reached out

It shouldn’t be surprising to learn that many of the nonunion autoworkers at plants around the country have reached out to the UAW. The interest is in starting a movement at their factories to enable them to join the UAW. Much of this interest has come from plants in the South where wages are lowest, and many workers have been raised to be against a union. Typically, the UAW is relatively quiet, but this recent action and the three-pronged strike have caught the attention of the rest of the country.

Skepticism and fear are rampant at nonunion plants

Some of the nonunion autoworkers have expressed their fear and skepticism at being able to organize and bring the UAW to their factories. One member of the Canton Nissan plant remembers an attempt to unionize in 2017, which was met with the threat to move the work to Mexico, which would have caused 5,000 employees to lose their jobs. While this doesn’t sound like good business practices, it’s been done many times over, which means many automakers have the ability to make good on such threats.

Maybe nonunion companies are taking care of their workers

Some workers feel the companies they work for take care of them well and don’t want to “rock the boat” and create any unrest, even if the result could be higher pay and better working conditions. Some feel that third-party involvement wouldn’t be in their best interest, while others are satisfied with their jobs and positions, especially considering what other industries, such as the food service industry, have to offer. Most coming from other industries are more than happy with the work schedule and benefits offered in the auto industry.

Pay isn’t keeping up with inflation

Although some workers at these nonunion plants are happy with their situation, some are seeing the potential benefits of the UAW. This would be even more true if the UAW wins and receives most of its demands. Some workers report wages that top out at a value that doesn’t keep up with increased inflation and greedy landlords that have continued to raise rents every year. One worker commented its disconcerting to build a $60,000 SUV, knowing you can never afford to buy this vehicle. Considering that’s the average price of electric vehicles, this could become a serious problem in the industry.

The UAW is growing stronger under new leadership

The UAW’s reputation before Fain took over was filled with corruption and scandal. Recent labor victories and new leadership changes this reputation and brings the UAW into a positive light. Recently, the UPS-Teamsters won big, and the Writers Guild of America received some incredible wins that surprised many. Support for labor unions is on the rise, and this makes it the perfect time for nonunion workers to begin to explore the possibilities of organizing and joining the UAW.

The divided front, will more auto plants organize?

When the results of this massive UAW strike are complete, will it encourage workers at Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, and other plants to organize and join the UAW? Will the UAW eventually represent more than the Big Three and be able to call it the Big Seven or Ten? Many autoworkers are still fearful but might not be as afraid if the UAW wins big.