Tariffs, Profit Sharing, and Contract Wins
Innovative Ideas: UI for Striking Workers
In most U.S. states, striking workers are ineligible for unemployment insurance (UI), which can weaken collective bargaining by allowing employers to engage in bad-faith tactics. Currently, only New Jersey and New York offer UI benefits to striking workers, but 13 other states are considering similar measures. Extending UI to strikers would cost between 0.04% and 0.96% of a state’s total UI expenditures, a minimal amount. Providing these benefits not only supports workers but also stabilizes local economies during strikes. Contrary to concerns, offering UI to strikers may lead to fewer strikes by promoting fair negotiations.
This article explains that extending unemployment insurance to striking workers strengthens unions and benefits the economy.
Podcast Statistics and Trends for 2025 (and Why They Matter)
Podcasting is a great communication medium for union members, offering a direct, accessible platform to share updates, discuss labor issues, and mobilize support. It fosters engagement, strengthens solidarity, and amplifies workers’ voices beyond traditional communication channels.
This article on Riverside.fm provides key podcasting statistics for 2025, highlighting growth trends, and listener demographics. It discusses audience engagement, platform popularity, and emphasizes podcasting’s expanding influence. The piece also offers insights on content strategies and technical aspects to maximize reach.
UAW Statement on Tariffs and Renegotiating U.S. Trade Agreements
President Trump has imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese goods and is currently considering additional tariff action on multiple countries, including Mexico and Canada. On February 3, the UAW made the following statement outlining our position on tariffs:
UAW Members at Detroit Axle Ratify Contract
UAW members at Detroit Axle ratified a new contract with Daimler Truck, securing historic wage increases (up to 50%), profit-sharing, and COLA benefits. The victory, achieved through strong unity and strike readiness, marks a significant win for workers against corporate resistance.
This contract is a victory for labor rights and proves the power of collective action.
UAW Pres. Walter Reuther on Profit Sharing Plan: 1958-Part 1
In the 1950s, UAW President Walter Reuther was a visionary in advocating for profit sharing as a means to address the growing inequality between corporate profits and workers’ wages. Reuther recognized the need for workers to directly benefit from the profits they helped generate, pushing for a system that would ensure workers had a stake in the prosperity of their employers. His foresight extended beyond simple wage increases; he saw profit sharing as a way to empower workers, secure long-term economic stability, and strengthen labor rights in the face of an increasingly prosperous yet unequal economy.
Here is the first part of a two-part interview Walter Reuther had with news anchor Mike Wallace on the then “radical” plan of profit sharing.
UAW President Shawn Fain to Rally with American Axle Workers in Michigan Ahead of May Contract Expiration
UAW Condemns Violent Attack on Tornel Rubber Workers in Mexico, Urges Immediate USMCA Action
Woodward MPC UAW Workers Outside Chicago Demand Respect and a Fair Contract