The US auto industry has long been a significant contributor to the country’s economy, employing nearly 1 million workers in the manufacturing of vehicles and parts. However, the nature of these jobs has evolved over time, with the average autoworker in 1935 earning just over half the amount needed to support a family of four. It was only through historic strikes and the formation of unions that the industry started offering higher-paying jobs.
Today, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union represents a portion of auto industry workers, with approximately 16% of the industry being unionized. However, the UAW’s membership has seen a decline in recent decades, now consisting of about 400,000 members. The rise of electric vehicles (EVs) poses an additional challenge for autoworkers, as building EVs requires fewer workers due to their simplified design.
Carmakers have offered wage increases of up to 20%, while the UAW has requested a 36% increase over four years. One point of contention is the carmakers’ desire to maintain a two-tier wage system, which the UAW opposes. This system would mean that newer workers would take four years to reach the same level of pay as more experienced employees.
The introduction of new technology and automation also threatens jobs in other industries. Hollywood screenwriters and actors, as well as longshoremen and airline pilots, have expressed concerns about the use of artificial intelligence and robots in their respective fields. The impact of electrification on employment is particularly significant as it has the potential to eliminate certain roles and significantly change or relocate others.
The UAW fears that autoworkers will bear the brunt of this transition, potentially facing spells of unemployment. The question arises of whether these workers will be able to transition into new types of work or if they will struggle to find employment. While electrification does not pose the same threat to unions in Germany, where unions sit on company boards and represent all types of automotive workers, the situation in the US is different. German carmaker Volkswagen faced resistance from workers at its Chattanooga plant in Tennessee when they rejected a union vote.
The ongoing strike by the UAW could have broader implications for the future of the auto industry in Michigan, where Detroit-based companies face competition from non-unionized Tesla and foreign-owned plants in southern states. Carmakers’ investments in new EV factories and infrastructure are at stake, with Moody’s warning that meeting the UAW’s wage demands could reduce profitability and affect projects linked to industry transformation.
In the face of these challenges, Senator Bernie Sanders has expressed his determination to restore the days when a union job in the auto industry was a gold standard for the working class. The future of auto industry jobs in the US remains uncertain, but it is clear that significant changes are underway.
Sources:
– Bloomberg
– Financial Times
– Library of Congress