Drop in U.A.W. Roles Reflect Automakers’ Problems

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Membership in the United Auto Workers union has fallen below 500,000 for the first time since World War II, reflecting the restructuring undertaken by Detroit’s automakers.

The union reported Friday in a filing with the Labor Department that it had 464,910 members by the end of 2007, compared with 538,448 at the end of 2006. U.A.W. membership peaked in 1979 at 1.5 million but has been dropping ever since.

Mike Smith, director of the Walter P. Reuther Library at Wayne State University in Detroit, said the last time the U.A.W. had fewer than 500,000 members was in 1941. By 1945, membership had topped one million.

The General Motors Corporation, the Ford Motor Company, Chrysler and their suppliers have cut tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs as foreign competition and a weak economy have slowed auto sales.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/28/business/28cnd-union.html?ref=business

[Newsjock]

1. Wow, the AP and NYT both must be missing a few editors tonight

Rolls, not roles. Sheesh!

The headline as given suggests something different, no fault of the OP.

[unkachuck]

2. "...as foreign competition...

...and a weak economy have slowed auto sales."

....let's not forget the contribution made by poorly designed/engineered, gas-guzzeling US automobles....

"...the last time the U.A.W. had fewer than 500,000 members was in 1941."

....so now, due to incompetent and greedy management (everywhere), we've worked our way back to 1941....does anyone want to try for 1900?....unbelieveable....

[ShockediSay]

3. Remember the movie 'Roger and Me' nt