The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has announced that it will not continue expanding its strike following a significant breakthrough. This breakthrough involves including electric vehicle battery plants in the union’s national contract.
During a video appearance on Friday, UAW President Shawn Fain stated that this decision would have a transformative impact on both the union and the auto industry. As a result, further strike expansions will be temporarily paused.
“Our strike is making progress, but we still have more work to do,” said Fain.
This agreement essentially ensures that workers at the EV battery plant will become part of the union. This concession could potentially encourage other companies to take similar actions, which would have significant implications for the labor arrangements associated with the US transition away from fossil fuels.
“This agreement defines the transition to EVs,” stated Harley Shaiken, a labor professor at the University of California, Berkeley, in an interview with Reuters. “It is highly likely that GM’s concession in the master agreement will be matched by Ford and Stellantis.”
Source from www.aljazeera.com