The strike by the United Auto Workers (UAW) against General Motors (GM), Ford, and Stellantis has now reached its third week. Despite slow progress towards a resolution, the union’s relentless pressure on the companies is starting to yield results for its 145,000 members. At the center of the labor dispute lies the fear among union members that the shift towards electric cars will lead to a significant reduction in the workforce required to manufacture vehicles of the future. However, this fear may be based on a flawed analysis.
The Transition to Electric Cars
While the assembly of internal combustion engines requires numerous parts and intricate processes, electric vehicle drivetrains are simpler with fewer components. It suggests that electric cars could potentially require fewer workers for assembly. However, this analysis overlooks the fact that the majority of engines and transmissions are already assembled by robots. The days of manual assembly using torque wrenches are long gone, except for high-end manufacturers such as Porsche and McLaren who still use traditional methods.
Research presented by CNN demonstrates that the difference in labor required to manufacture an electric vehicle versus a conventional car is relatively small. Erica Fuchs, a labor researcher at Carnegie Mellon, suggests that producing electric vehicle powertrains, including batteries, electric motors, and power management systems, actually requires more total labor compared to engines and transmissions. Similarly, the Boston Consulting Group’s findings indicate that the total labor required for manufacturing a complete electric vehicle is only slightly less than that for a gasoline-powered car. Despite initial concerns, the impact on job numbers with the rise of electric vehicles may be less significant than anticipated.
The UAW’s Concerns and Demands
What truly angers the UAW is the automakers’ strategy of establishing battery factories in states with limited labor union protections. This tactic mirrors the scenario in the 1950s when shoemakers relocated their factories from Danvers, Massachusetts, to Southern states with a non-unionized workforce. The UAW seeks to unionize workers in these battery component and assembly plants.
Recently, General Motors agreed, albeit reluctantly, to the union’s demands after the UAW threatened to strike their Arlington, Texas factory, which produces highly profitable light-duty pickup trucks and SUVs. This concession and the inclusion of battery factory workers in the master union contract suggests that the strike is nearing its end, with the UAW achieving significant concessions.
The UAW’s Progress and Objectives
Shawn Fain, the head of the UAW, expressed optimism and determination during a recent address to striking union members. Fain emphasized that the strike is yielding positive outcomes, with General Motors making significant concessions in response to the threat of a major financial hit. Fain declared that the union’s strategy of escalating pressure while carefully avoiding excessive harm to the companies has paid off.
The union’s grievances extend beyond the impact of transitioning to electric vehicles. The UAW aims to address the lingering effects of the two-tier system, in which workers hired after 2008 face limitations on their pay increases. Furthermore, Fain highlighted Ford’s more favorable wage offers compared to Stellantis and General Motors. The companies’ record profits and substantial executive pay raises further fuel the anger of union members who are awaiting their share of these profits.
A Shift in Power
Shawn Fain’s passionate speeches and the UAW’s ongoing strike have sent a clear message to the automakers. The union’s determination to fight for fairness and justice for its members represents a departure from past complacency. As the strike continues to make headway, automakers who previously believed they could evade the UAW by establishing operations in non-unionized Southern states are now witnessing the union’s power and resolve. The future for both the UAW and the industry at large remains uncertain, but the events of recent weeks have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the landscape of labor relations in the automotive sector.
