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For 40 years, we’ve seen the devastating effects of so-called “free trade” on the working class. Corporations have been driving a non-stop race to the bottom by killing good blue-collar jobs in America to go exploit some poor worker in another country by paying poverty wages. Tariffs are a powerful tool in the toolbox for undoing the injustice of anti-worker trade deals. We are glad to see an American president take aggressive action on ending the free trade disaster that has dropped like a bomb on the working class.
There’s been a lot of talk of these tariffs “disrupting” the economy. But if corporate America chooses to price-gouge the American consumer or attack the American worker because they don’t want to pay their fair share, corporate America bears the blame for that decision. The working class suffered all the pain of NAFTA, and we won’t suffer all the pain of undoing NAFTA. We want to see corporate America, from the auto industry and beyond, recommit to the working class that makes the products and generates the profits that keep this country running.
The UAW is in active negotiations with the Trump Administration about their plans to end the free trade disaster. We look forward to working with the White House to shape the auto tariffs in April to benefit the working class. We want to see serious action that will incentivize companies to change their behavior, reinvest in America, and stop cheating the American worker, the American consumer, and the American taxpayer.
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.
UNION PLUS – CAR RENTAL DISCOUNTS
UAW Statement on Mexico’s SINTTIA Organizing Drive at GM San Luis Potosí
UAW Applauds MI House Dems for “Putting Workers First” Bills, Urges Full Legislature to Pick a Side