Alternative Visions - Are Unions At a Strategic Impasse?—Interview with Gregg Shotwell, UAW - 01/29/14

Continuing a theme of recent Alternative Visions shows, Jack Rasmus interviews long-time United Autoworkers rank and file member and activist, Gregg Shotwell. Focusing discussion on what’s wrong with Union organizing and bargaining strategies in particular, Gregg shares his experiences of decades in the UAW which witnessed that once powerful union’s shift from an emphasis and reliance on union members themselves more to a model of union as Human Resources Partner to management. Gregg explains how the UAW leadership has shifted to ‘organizing the employer’ and emphasizing ‘neutrality agreements’ with management in its organizing strategy; and in bargaining strategy, to accepting the company’s bargaining agenda and discouraging members’ self-reliance on the job to resolve problems. Gregg explains how workers need to ‘occupy the workplace’ and focus on ‘inside strikes’ more, as well as understand that voting for a leadership change by itself often changes nothing in the end. Jack suggests new strategies—and new tactics—are also needed in union-community alliances initiatives.