Unifor and Big Three Bargaining
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 30 October 2016 23:30
- Written by editor
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A Socialist Project e-bulletin .... No. 1322 .... October 31, 2016
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Unifor and Big Three Bargaining:
A Response to Gindin’s "Different Ways of Making History"
Bill Murnighan
In his essay of October 17, 2016, "Big Three Bargaining: Different Ways of Making History," Sam Gindin provides an intriguing analysis of current negotiations between Unifor and the Detroit Three automakers. Beyond agreeing with his points about tough pressure on auto workers, there is not much room for agreement on his portrayal of the issues, the economic and industry context, or the outcomes of negotiations to-date. And there are serious factual concerns around his analysis of autoworkers’ earnings.
In the author's effort to support a particular theoretical viewpoint about the appropriate role of unions in challenging the rights of corporations to unilaterally determine when, and where, to invest;... Gindin has unfortunately side-stepped a number of major developments and events, and misstated workers’ earnings in order to portray a concessionary record of bargaining. Serious discussion and debate are essential for the trade union and other social movements, as is analysis and commentary on strategy and political orientation. In this case, however, I suggest that the analysis offered does not add up, and ultimately detracts from serious debate.
Specifically, I'll offer a significantly different understanding in a number of areas, including the question of what is a two-tier system (and what isn't); the origins and context for negotiating a wage progression; address misstatements about autoworkers’ earnings; discuss the role of unions in challenging corporations right to unilateral investment decisions; and finally, offer a few thoughts on what kind of history may indeed be made in our negotiations.