I understand what the goal is and the theory behind it. The thing is the strike fund has enough funds for an all out strike that is 10 months long. That would be billions lost for the big three if they wanted to try to outlast the union, not to mention fund raising the union could do to extend it if needed.
Easing the strike up this week because one came to the table isn’t great. With only 17% striking, that leaves 83% working without a contract, that’s a big problem especially if this approach is going to be a drawn out process.
jonne@infosec.pub 8 months ago
And it allows the strike fund to go a lot further too.
Sunforged@lemmy.world 8 months ago
They have enough in their strike fund for an all out strike for 10 months. How long do you think these negotiations should be stretched out?
tsz@lemmy.world 8 months ago
This kind of ridiculous black and white opinion that completely ignores the reality of the situation and the goals of the groups involved has become way too prevalent on here. All it says to me is that you have no legitimate experience working, losing money, or for that matter, striking. I’m so sick of lemmy and these attitudes. Just calm the fuck down and think before you speak. You are contributing to the dumbest echo chamber to have ever seen. You’re out of touch with reality. Grow up.
Sunforged@lemmy.world 8 months ago
My opinion are based on what works for labor rights. A pragmatic “lets not hurt the business” approach hasn’t worked for the past 4 decades.
Having union members continue to work during this partial strike is only giving the big 3 more time to lay off workers. Fain has sold this as a positive, saying those laid off can claim unemployment instead of pulling from the strike fund. There are alot of problems with this, there is little support for laid of members to navigate claiming unemployment, with every state having different requirements it’s left many confused on where they stand with the strike and union. Also UAW has one of the biggest strike coffers in the country, at this time of unprecedented labor support they need to use that and go all out. That’s how the writers guild just got their unprecedented win last week, and most of those writers are still out on the picket lines in solidarity with the SAG, as a united front.
I’ve been hopeful of Fain’s approach but it’s doing more harm than good within the union, when members were ready to stand together they were instead left as confused as the big 3 were, which if you’re just looking at dollars in the bank was a win I guess, but moral is more important. Again they are not hurting in their strike fund, this is not a newly formed union it’s one of the oldest.
Stovetop@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Until they get exactly what they ask for.
Could they hurt the corporations more? Sure. But it’s pragmatic, really. If they’re getting what they want, no need to make it a bigger, more expensive thing than it needs to be.
unfreeradical@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Do you know how long it would take to accumulate the same amount of funds?
Sunforged@lemmy.world 8 months ago
$825,000,000 in the current strike fund. 400,000 current active members. I’m not sure what the contract length is so let’s say 4 years, that’s a minimun.
825,000,000÷4÷12÷400,000= 42.96 per month to rebuild the fund for the next contract.
That is not to mention the current fight is an existential one for the union. As EV funding coming from the state has all gone to none union shops, it has hurt the unions strength. Part of this current fight is to demand expansion of the union to EV shops, growing that member number and preventing the union from becoming irrelevant.
jonne@infosec.pub 8 months ago
They don’t have to spend it all, you know. If they can reward corporations for negotiating in good faith by limiting the damage of the strike, they’re retaining leverage. They can still go full strike later, but it looks like it’s not necessary.
I’m sure the UAW knows what they’re doing.