Paige Hodder writes for Automotive News:
Scott Houldieson, a member of UAW Local 551 in Chicago and founding member of the union’s Unite All Workers For Democracy reform caucus, said communication from previous leadership was “atrocious.”
That disconnect was felt strongly in 2019, when around 46,000 UAW workers went on strike for 40 days against GM.
“Workers were on the picket line, knowing what their demands were but hearing absolutely nothing during the entire strike,” Houldieson said. “It was an information blackout from beginning to end.”
Houldieson expected current leadership to be more transparent heading into the Detroit 3 negotiations but was surprised to see [UAW President Shawn] Fain offering updates about what had been said at the bargaining table.
That change will be a key piece of leverage as negotiations continue, Houldieson said. Asking members how to contact them extends this leverage to everyone, he added, including those who don’t have the time or energy to monitor updates on Facebook.
“Let’s be clear, the negotiators at the bargaining table’s power comes from the members behind them,” Houldieson said.
Read more in Automotive News.