A Conversation with the UAW and Their Battle to Save the Middle Class

It's no secret that the middle class is on its death march - if we allow it to happen. Michigan has a rich history when it comes to union organization. The Flint Sit Down Strike in 1936-37 was the catalyst of the organized labor movement in this country. We can thank the workers from 36-37 for the myriad of labor laws that we all enjoy today. During the bust of 2008-2009 Stellantis (Chrysler at the time) and GM filed for bankruptcy protection and took billions in a tax payer funded bailout. UAW workers also made massive concessions to help keep the companies afloat.  Beginning in 2010, the Big 3 started making their profits back. Massive CEO salaries followed, but the restoration of UAW concessions did not. In this podcast, we speak with two General Motors UAW workers, Michelle Howard and Chris Facundo, about those concessions and the current fight the UAW is in with the Big 3; not only to restore those 2009 concessions and a wage that reflects their projected $32B in profit in 2023, but the revival of the labor movement in the United States and the UAWs bigger fight to save the middle class. Chris is also on the union bargaining team with UAW Local 362 in Bay City. Episode ResourcesUAW https://uaw.org/UAW Facebook https://www.facebook.com/uaw.unionGeneral Motors https://investor.gm.com/investor-relationsGeneral Motors 2023 Proxy Statement https://investor.gm.com/static-files/b64a3a95-3f28-41e5-b43f-afc8a50c7ce6UAW Automakers Negotiations https://www.epi.org/blog/uaw-automakers-negotiations/The Strike Heard Around the World https://guides.loc.gov/this-month-in-business-history/february/flint-michigan-sit-down-strikeDisaster Story #13: Ohio's Long History with Lordstown Assembly https://economicaccountability.org/lordstown/The End of the Line https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/01/magazine/lordstown-general-motors-plant.htmlLordstown's Devastating End https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/aug/23/general-motors-factory-ohio-lordstownThe Strike Heard Around the World https://guides.loc.gov/this-month-in-business-history/february/flint-michigan-sit-down-strikeThis podcast may contain adult language or sensitive topics and may be triggering to some. Please take this into consideration before listening. Subscribe to our bi-monthly print magazine that celebrates the Great Lakes through Amazing Adventures, Stunning Photography, High-Profile Content & More! And it's delivered right to your doorstep.Subscribe at GreatLakesPulse.com/subscribe Follow Us On Social Media:website: https://greatlakespulse.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@greatlakespulseInstagram: https://instagram.com/greatlakespulseThreads: https://threads.net/greatlakespulseTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@pulseofthegreatlakesFacebook: https://facebook.com/greatlakespulse To make a tax deductable donation to our various initiatives to help Empower Great Lakers, please visit lovewhereyoulivefoundation.org/donate.