United Auto Workers President Bob King says the relationship between the union and Detroit car companies has dramatically improved. That could help the two sides reach an agreement more quickly in ongoing contract talks. And King hopes it will help him sell the value of his union to foreign auto companies in the U.S.
The UAW is a third the size if was in 1979 mostly due to the downsizing of the Detroit Three. Future hiring by Detroit car companies will likely be modest. So the UAW wants to unionize foreign auto companies in the U.S.
Union President Bob King says most of the companies have agreed to meet with his group. He says the union needs to overcome strong anti-union sentiment, and convince the companies that the new UAW wants to help them be profitable.
“Probably the biggest question in their mind is, is this for real, is this a passing fancy with the UAW or is this for real?”
Prolonged and contentious contract talks could throw a monkey wrench in the unions’ plans to try to unionize a foreign automaker. But King and Detroit automakers say they’re negotiating in a spirit of cooperation.
