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Why you should care if the United Auto Workers Union is dead

The UAW contracts with GM, Ford and FCA will expire on September 14, 2015

The United Auto Workers union is currently holding its constitutional convention in Detroit, at which delegates are expected to vote on a controversial dues hike.

At the same time, there have been voices asking the question "Is the UAW dead?"

Iin the 1970s, the UAW boasted a formidable membership of 1.6 million members. Today, the union has fewer than 390,000 members.

Earlier this year, the union poured much effort into organizing workers at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. But more than 53% of those workers said, "no thanks." It was a gut-blow to the union, which first announced it would challenge the vote and then quietly withdrew.

Marick Masters, director of labor, professor of business, and adjunct professor of political science at Wayne State University,  joined us to discuss the relevancy of the UAW in 2014.

Michigan Radio’s political analyst  Jack Lessenberry joined the conversation as well. 

*Listen to interview in link above. 

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