We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
How Southern Autoworkers Can Reverse Decades of Job Quality Decline.
- Authors
BAYARD, MARC; WAKELEY, DEV
- Abstract
The United Auto Workers recently achieved a significant victory at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee, marking a potential turning point for labor in the historically anti-union South. The next test will be a UAW election at a Mercedes-Benz factory in Alabama, a state known for attracting auto investment. If the roughly 5,000 Mercedes workers vote to unionize, it could have a positive impact on workers nationwide. Southern states have traditionally pursued development strategies that prioritize low wages and repressive labor policies, resulting in decreased job quality and fair compensation for workers. Foreign-owned auto companies in Alabama, which have received substantial public subsidies, have left workers behind while enjoying rising corporate profits. An in-depth report by Alabama Arise found that autoworkers' average pay has dropped by 11 percent over the past 20 years, while CEO pay remains high. Additionally, racial disparities persist, with Black and Latino workers earning less than their white counterparts. Unionization has been shown to increase wages, particularly for workers of color, and boost local economies. However, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and other GOP governors have actively discouraged unionization efforts. Despite this, a recent poll indicates that a majority of Alabama residents support the autoworkers' union drive. Increased public approval of unions reflects years of community and labor organizing. The fact that a large majority of workers at the Mercedes-Benz plant have expressed support for the election is encouraging. The article argues for a new economic structure in the South based on fairness and equity, with
- Subjects
QUALITY of work life; LABOR union members; EXECUTIVE compensation; BLACK people; NONPROFIT organizations
- Publication
CounterPunch, 2024, p1
- ISSN
1086-2323
- Publication type
Article