Why the UAW will Prosper – Un Social Media Management for Business

Admit it. You had to look twice at that headline. I don’t blame you. With all the negative news surrounding the United Auto Workers these days, that headline doesn’t make sense. Plus, it irritates you.I mean, they’re going down, right? They weren’t in good shape to begin with. They’ve had a Flint-like feel to them for decades. First the 70’s Oil Embargo. Then the foreign car invasion of the 80’s.

And NOW, with:

Right to Work giving workers the RIGHT to opt out of paying dues…
A top UAW/Chrysler official (allegedly) taking bribes… AND…
President Trump appointing two hit men to the Bureau of Labor…

It’s DEFINITELY the END of the ‘Yoo Eh Dubyah’…It HAS to be. Doesn’t it?!?

We ARE Organized Labor !

While it’s true that today’s 415,963 active UAW members amount to less than one-third of the 1.5 million we had at our peak in 1979, it’s easy to understand the decline when you factor in globalization and automation. But with around 580,000 retired members, the UAW’s voice is still nearly one million strong. And you know what? 95% of us are not who you think we are. We’re not that lazy guy you’ve heard so much about. We’re not the corrupt leader who takes bribes in exchange for favors. And we’re not that drunk who is wasted at the bar while we’re supposed to be on the assembly line. That’s not how most of us act. Truth be told, there is a small percentage in every workforce who seems to screw things up for the rest of the group. You probably know who they are in your company.

Those people are a very small, very poor representation of the overall workforce. And it’s time they stop casting a dark shadow on the rest of us. We want corrupt officials brought to justice worse than you do. They’re destroying our solidarity, damaging our reputation, and making it hard for us to succeed. But what’s an autoworker to do in the face of all these tough challenges? 395,165 of us (95%) will continue to do what we’ve always done during tough times. We’ll put our heads down and focus on building the world’s best automobiles. To do anything else would be counterproductive. That’s our job. We make quality parts so you and your loved ones have good, safe vehicles to transport and protect you. That’s what we do every day. We get out of bed, lace up our boots, and go make cars and trucks.

Our Union is Expanding

Actually, it’s misleading to claim there are over 400,000 UAW-represented autoworkers today. The UAW’s 415,963 members are spread through various fields like health care, aerospace, automotive parts, casino gambling, and higher education. While the auto industry is what we’re best known for, people from every economic sector are looking to see what benefits the UAW might offer to them in their situation. Some believe they’re being taken advantage of and are curious if collective bargaining could help them get a better deal. Others don’t feel their workplace provides favorable working conditions or treats employees with fairness and equality. Whatever their reason may be, it’s a fact that the UAW is expanding into new territory.

Our Union is Evolving

It’s neat to work in today’s high-tech automotive facilities. When product lines change, our members receive training on the latest in advancing technology and innovation. I like technology. I’ve watched automotive manufacturing evolve up-close for the last 24 years. It’s come a long way. I’d never have gotten to see it if I didn’t have the job I do. Most UAW workers feel the same. We’re not lazy, corrupt, or unhappy. We’re thankful to have a job, determined to do our best, and excited for the future. We’re great at what we do, and we’re happy to see others enjoying the cool products we make. Plus, it’s a safe place to work. Many other manufacturing facilities aren’t as safe. We’ve grown and evolved through bankruptcy reorganization, workforce restructuring and retraining, and we’ll continue to work our way forward – one challenge at a time. And despite all you’ve heard, we’ve learned more than a few key lessons along the way. Here are just three of many:

3 Lessons We’ve Learned

Negativity Won’t Work – 95% of us know that resisting change, telling others what car to buy, and attacking our leadership when we disagree aren’t effective ways to resolve issues. Instead, we’re communicating about the challenges we collectively face so we can put the best resolutions in place. We’re learning new ways to leverage social media to communicate more effectively. We’re educating ourselves and writing articles to let you know who we really are. And rather than nagging you to “Buy Union”, we’re becoming brand ambassadors and showcasing the products we make. We’re proud of the job our design teams are doing, and we’re focusing on making products you want to buy.(Thank you, by the way. We appreciate your business!)
Embrace Change and Look for Opportunity – In today’s competitive market, we can’t afford to resist technology. Once you’re left behind, it’s almost impossible to catch back up. When I encounter workers who resist change and advancing technology, I always ask them the same question: “How successful would today’s farmer be if he still used a horse to pull his plow?” Even though automation has cost as many jobs as globalization, the auto industry will continue to evolve whether we resist it or not. The only way to stay viable in manufacturing is to embrace change and look for new ways to grow. If you’re busy resisting change, you’ll never see the opportunity that often comes with it.
Be the Best at What We Do – There’s one reason why we’re not too worried about who President Trump appoints to the Bureau of Labor. We’re great at what we do, and we provide value to the companies we serve. The best we can do is continue to add value wherever we can. Besides, it doesn’t pay to worry about things we have no control over. Regardless of what you think about our President, he’s a smart business man. He knows we’re not the same old labor union we once were. He knows we’ve grown and changed, and we know we’ll have to continue to evolve to remain viable.If President Trump truly wants to make America great again, he’ll negotiate trade agreements that are good for American workers. I’ve been to other countries. I’d put our UAW-trained workforce up against anyone in the world on a level playing field.

Democracy that Works

In today’s world, politics makes democracy feel like a fairy tale. Had I not been in the UAW, I wouldn’t know what a working democracy feels like. If you’re wondering who I am to make such a bold prediction about the future of the UAW, I’ll be happy to tell you’ve spent the last 24 years in 8 different GM factories on production, skilled trades, and in the union leadership. For almost a decade, I served the membership of UAW Local 699 as Committeeman, Contract Negotiator, and Skilled Trades Representative.I was elected to make tough decisions at the bargaining table to help our company recover from bankruptcy. I didn’t come from a UAW family. I grew up working on my grandpa’s beef cattle farm and at his excavation company.I made decisions at the bargaining table like grandpa would have made for his own business. Even though some decisions I made were hugely unpopular, I’d do the same thing again for the good of the membership.I didn’t get involved in the union because I was lazy. I saw the opportunity to create change and stood up to fight for it. That’s how democracy is supposed to work.

But Will the UAW Really Prosper ?

Nobody can predict the future, but I wouldn’t bet against the United Auto Workers. They’re not the dinosaur you think they are. They’ve proven they can survive tough times, and they’ve got deep roots in labor. So, will they succeed or will they fail? Like any business today, it depends on the choices they make from here on out. First, they need to fix the problems they’re facing to make sure this type of corruption can never happen again. Transparency in unions is a good thing. Next, they should keep doing what they’re good at, but they also need to be on the lookout for ways to evolve. When it comes to new technology, it’s important to canvas the membership for new ideas and rising talent. After all, it’s the people who make the union strong. And members should be encouraged to respectfully step forward with ideas. Here are three of mine:

Three UAW Opportunities

Put Communication First – Because the UAW’s future depends on the ability to communicate effectively, it’s in their best interest to be on the leading edge of communication technology. While we seem to understand that computers are considered “obsolete” six months after we buy them, we don’t think about communication technology evolving at the same pace. As communication technology advances, it trains the user to communicate more effectively, which means that communication itself is evolving. But it’s not just technology evolving the user. Many UAW members are learning to communicate more effectively, and some (like me) have written books on effective online communication techniques and ‘unsocial’ media management.
Create Pathways Between Economic Sectors – As the economy continues to change and evolve, career opportunities expand and shrink in various sectors. Simply put, the demand for labor changes over time. The UAW would be smart to create pathways between career sectors to protect members during economic transitions. For example, if you lost your auto industry job, the UAW could help you re-train for a job in health care. This type of added security would entice new members to join, and it would increase the UAW’s value in the labor market.
Unite the American People – I mentioned earlier that the UAW needed to stop telling people which car to buy. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. If the UAW is serious about recruiting and representing more members, they’ll make it a priority to win the public’s support. They’ll look for influencers within their ranks who can portray a positive public image and share the best of what the UAW is all about. Those influencers will look for common ground and communicate in a non-confrontational manner that serves the group’s (collective) best interests, no matter what they’re faced with. (If you’re interested in learning how to effectively manage negativity and drama on social media, pay attention to how I handle the feedback on this article.)

Unity, Prosperity, and the American Dream

America didn’t become great because people wanted to see each other fail. What made these UNITED States great was the ability to look past our differences, find common ground, and focus on the big picture despite the many challenges we face. Most people generally want others to be well and prosper so they can be positive, productive members of society. We proudly support the mom and pop store on the corner, but sadly, that’s not how we feel when we see headlines like “Why the UAW will Prosper”. “Not those guys. They don’t deserve prosperity…” Is that how you feel? I can’t blame you after years of watching the stories in the media, especially after seeing the way some of those jerks have acted. But let me tell you once more.95% of us aren’t that bad guy. Most of us are hard-working Americans who want to make a decent living, just like you. And we genuinely and respectfully wish you success, wellness, and prosperity. We hope your American Dream is alive and well. Because to us, that’s the right way to roll.