Some experts, including dissidents within and labor analysts on the outside, raise a larger issue: whether the union understands that a fundamental restructuring of the auto industry worldwide is occurring. These experts, including Harley Shaiken, a work specialist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, say that in its feverish efforts to save jobs now, the U.A.W. is aiding industry without increasing the power of the union or the workers.
In recent weeks, deep resistance has broken out against efforts by G.M. to extract local concessions as large or larger than those achieved in the national negotiations. Some experts say they believe that, ultimately, the local concessions involving work rules, such as reducing distinctions between skilled tradesmen and production workers, will be more important than the national wage concessions.