(WWJ) – The most recent UAW strike may not have been the longest in the union’s history, but it may be the most impactful.
For the first time in history, the UAW struck all members of the Detroit 3 — Ford, General Motors and Stellantis — at the same time. In total, roughly 40,000 members went on strike over a six-week stretch, and have since returned to work as the ratification process is ongoing.
So, after an eventful six weeks, did the strike work? How can we tell? On this Daily J podcast WWJ’s Zach Clark hears from experts on what exactly the strike means for the here-and-now, as well as in the long-run.
Automotive News reporter Mike Martinez says workers -- full-time, temporary workers and new hires -- will see big improvements as a result of the strike.
But the impact goes even beyond the automakers. Marick Masters, a Wayne State University business professor, says we can expect to see a "ripple effect" in two ways.
"One would be sort of a deliberate effort on the part of the companies to say we've seen what's gone on in the market, we realize that wages are going up and we're gonna meet those wages," Masters said. "The other is that as wages increase in the unionized sector, there will be employers that are in densely unionized areas that realize they need to raise they need to raise their wages if they want to recruit and retain people."
Therefore, he says, there will be a ripple effect "that is far wider than the confines of the contract itself."
The question now, according to Masters, is "can they use this moment to revitalize the labor organization that they represent?"
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