New Union in the Age of Obama
Since president-elect Obama’s historic win, talk radio has been buzzing with the automotive industry. At yesterday’s meeting between president Bush and president-elect Obama, it was the most prominent topic in the news on the internet this morning.
On talk radio this morning, one caller estimated that 40% of union workers punch in and sit around not working. Obviously, this guy has not been in an automotive plant lately. Those days are over. He is living in the past.
Like any group, the automotive unions have factions. One faction that you never hear about is the new progressive union leaders. These union leaders represent both the best interest of the workers and the corporations they are working for at the same time. You hear them talking about safety, quality, productivity and cost.
The media and the public need to catch up with the fact that “their father’s union” is fading away and a new generation of union leaders is emerging with a much different tone.
Tags: management, Obama, relations, unions