In June, the president of the United Auto Workers (UAW) highlighted the success of Claire Valdez, a Columbia University program assistant, who won a Democratic primary election. This victory is indicative of a significant shift within the UAW, as it increasingly embraces politics and higher education.
Valdez's Background: Valdez became active in politics through her UAW membership, where she eventually led a unit representing 500 administrative workers at Columbia.
UAW Membership Decline: The UAW's membership has significantly declined from a peak of 1.5 million to 383,000, with higher education becoming its main growth area, encompassing about 100,000 members.
Changing Union Dynamics: Recent UAW leadership, such as Brandon Mancilla, who became director of UAW Region 9A, exemplifies this shift. Mancilla emphasized the union's changing focus, moving away from traditional auto and manufacturing concerns.
Political Activism: The UAW has taken progressive stances, being the first major American union to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and to divest from Israel bonds. This political involvement has redefined what strikes mean, with recent actions addressing broader social and political issues such as military funding and divestment.
Impact on Higher Education: Strikes led by academic locals have led to significant financial consequences for universities, including reduced PhD admissions in response to increased labor costs driven by union contracts.
The UAW is transforming into a politically active union that prioritizes issues beyond workplace concerns, particularly in higher education. This shift indicates a redefinition of union purposes, with contracts now serving as tools for political activism rather than merely workplace agreements.
https://www.city-journal.org/article/uaw-union-universities-politics
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