10:04 a.m. ET, September 17, 2023
Strikes are making a comeback in the US
Members of SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America picket in Los Angeles, California, on September 13.
Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
The United Auto Workers strike isn’t happening in a vacuum. It’s part of a growing movement of US workers walking off the job.
“There’s a generational change taking place in the labor movement and its thinking,” said Joseph McCartin, a labor historian at Georgetown University.
The auto workers, for example, are taking aim at CEO compensation at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis — which has grown by more than 40% over the last four years — to press their case for worker wage increases.
Workers also believe they have more bargaining power due to a tight labor market and the strongest public support for unions in decades.
“We’re living through a strong labor market and economy, and workers and unions feel more leverage when economic forces are blowing in the direction they have been,” McCartin said.
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Barbara Terrio is a seasoned business journalist, delving into the world of finance, startups, and entrepreneurship. With a knack for demystifying complex economic trends, she helps readers navigate the business landscape. Outside of her reporting, Barbara is an advocate for financial literacy and enjoys mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs.