Means for American Workers and the economy. The union at the centre of the dispute the uaw represesnts146,000 auto workers, who could all walk out over time. Currently, 1,300 are on strike. This strike is, of course, just one of many industrial actions that weve seen in the us this year and further afield. Heres a tiny snapshot ofjust some of them. Injanuary of this year, teachers in lebanon went on strike over working conditions and pay. In february, it was palestinian teachers who walked off thejob. March saw a Public Transit strike in germany. After german unions staged a one day strike calling for better salaries. In april, flights were disrupted in nigeria as workers protested pay and conditions. Some 3,000 teachers and school staff in oakland, california went on strike in may. June saw a highly contentious strike by starbucks workers, over a ban on displaying lgbt decor. July was the members of sag aftra join the writers� guild strike which has crippled hollywod, and well beyond and still continues. And last month, nurses and hospital workers at Robert Wood Johnson university in newjersey walked off the job over Staffing Levels and other issues. But for now, lets turn our attention to that us auto strike, and hearfrom our correspondent Michelle Fleury whos in detroit. The latest contract between americas big three car makers and their union expired little before midnight, triggering a first round of walkouts at three factories. 0ne each at General Motors in missouri, stellantis in ohio and ford, right here in michigan. The workers are asking for Better Benefits and they also want to see a 40 pay increase over the lifetime of the 4. 5 year contract. The Car Companies are offering about half of that. The uaw president shawn fain says it is a shame negotiations have broken down but he sees this as a fight for fair economic and social justice. And so do his members, many of whom sacrificed a lot to help the Car Companies return to health after the 2008 financial crisis. We gave our concessions up with the understanding that when we. Things got better with board we would get our stuff back, but we are having to now fight for it. There are people i know that are working here who are check to check, paycheck to paycheck. This was once a job that was so hard to get in, you could put your children through college, retirement, have the time of your life, but now we are struggling. As of late august the three Car Companies have enough vehicles to manage for up to 70 days. After that they will run short and that could lead to higher prices. According to some estimates even a two week strike could push up the cost of a new car by as much as 2 . Beyond the economic implications there are political ones as well. Joe biden considers himself one of the most prounion president s in modern history. He is sending representatives from the white house to help with negotiations, adding that record profits should also lead to record contracts for workers. You heard michelle referenece President Biden there, and his involvement in this standoff. Mr biden bills himself as the most Union Friendly president in decades and he made clear his support for workers at the white house today. No one wants a strike, il say it again, no one wants a strike, but the workers� rights to use their options on the collective bargaining. I understand the workers� frustration. All the workers have sacrificed so much to keep industry alive and strong especially in this economic crisis and the pandemic. Workers deserve a fair share of benefits they help create for an enterprise. Now, as we� ve mentioned the strike so far has been a targetted strike involving only a fraction of the total uaw Union Membership. But even so, an Economic Impact is inevitable. According to an estimate from the anderson economic group, the total lost production from a 10 day shutdown at the three affected plans will range between 20,000 and 25,000 cars. And if all of the uaw� s workforce walked off the job, the total impact of a 10 day strike would exceed 5 billion dollars. Jeanne whalen is a Global Business reporter at the washington post, and she spoke to me earlier. We� re nearly 2a hours into the strike. So far, three unions have been stood up. What� s the latest . Are more workers expected to join . Latest . Are more workers expected to join . Expected to oin . They very well good. Expected to join . They very well good. The expected to join . They very well good. The unions expected to join . They very i well good. The unions leader, well good. The union� s leader, shawn fein, said that he will widen the strike over time and include more plans if they don� t make progress with the bargaining companies. They haven� t said where that will happen and they� re doing that on purpose. They want to keep them on their toes and keep them on their toes and keep them guessing. But yes, it could very well widen. At the same time, the companies now, in a new twist, have said that they are temporarily idling for unemployment some non striking workers who cannot carry on with theirjobs because they� re not getting parts from the striking facilities. So it� s affecting already 2a hours into this. Even the non striking workers. This. Even the nonstriking workers this. Even the nonstriking workers. �. , ~ , workers. And were the workers expecting workers. And were the workers expecting that . Workers. And were the workers expecting that . Because workers. And were the workers expecting that . Because we i expecting that . Because we heard a lot about how the contracts were going to expire at midnight, but the employers would have to maintain the current terms and conditions until new contracts were put in place . Until new contracts were put in lace . � , ~ place . Thats right. I think that the union place . Thats right. I think that the union was place . Thats right. I think i that the union was expecting some. I don� t know if retaliation is the right word from the companies, but certainly some unforeseen events and some set backs and the union has said that it will take care of these workers. When the contracts expire, some unknowns happen, and i think this is one of them. Normally, when an auto company idles production, and they do this from time to time if they run short of parts. During the Semi Conductor part, they did this where they would idle a plan and send the workers home and give them what they call supplemental Unemployment Benefits, which is a percentage of the normal wages. So it is normal practice to send them home in cases where they can� t produce something. But in this case, these workers will not get those supplemental Unemployment Benefits from the companies, because their contract has expired. So it� s a bad outcome for the non striking folks so far. Bad outcome for the nonstriking folks so far. And have there nonstriking folks so far. And have there been nonstriking folks so far. And have there been any non striking folks so far. And have there been any further negotiations today between the union and the companies . Any moves to further this along . Not today. Shawn fein, the leader of the uaw, said yesterday, we� re not going to bargain on friday. We� re going to strike, walking pickett line, have the rally. But there are plans to go back to the bargaining table tomorrow, with ford at least. So we may see some news tomorrow. But the two sides are quite far apart on terms. So it� s not clear how quickly this might be resolved. Well, that was going to be my next question to you. Is there any expectation as to how long this can run for . There� s obviously an Economic Impact, but obviously if there are idled workers, there� s a serious impact in people� s pocket books . It� s serious impact in peoples pocket books . Serious impact in peoples pocket books . Its true, it is extremely pocket books . Its true, it is extremely unclear pocket books . Its true, it is extremely unclear to pocket books . Its true, it is extremely unclear to me pocket books . Its true, it is| extremely unclear to me and pocket books . Its true, it is i extremely unclear to me and to everyone else. I think, as you noted, the unions started out asking for a 40 wage increase. They� ve since come down to about 36 . And like a 36 raise over a four year contract. The companies have gradually come up companies have gradually come up to about 20 over four and a half years. That� s their latest offer. So they� re still quite far apart on wages and also on a number of other issues such as the workers would like everyone to receive a defined benefit pension in retirement instead of 401k contributions. They would like company financed health care in retirement, which not all workers get at the moment. And the companies have a push back on both of those demands. So unless there� s some real on one side or the other, or something makes this untenable for one side or the other, i don� t really see how it can end very soon. ~ ,. , ,. , soon. 0k. Well, this, as you sa , soon. 0k. Well, this, as you say. Plenty soon. 0k. Well, this, as you say. Plenty more soon. 0k. Well, this, as you say, plenty more to soon. Ok. Well, this, as you say, plenty more to talk soon. 0k. Well, this, as you i say, plenty more to talk about, plenty to rumble on. But we� ll leave it there for the moment. Thank you so much forjoining us. Thank you so much for oining us. , ~ thank you so much for oining us. , ~ ,. , let� s hear directly now from those on the picket line. Luigi gjokaj is Vice President at the uaw local 51 branch, they� ve been rallying in detroit tonight and i spoke to him just before that began ajob at one a job at one of the big three would always be considered a big steady well paying job. Is that the still the case . It� s not kept up with the inflation. The retirement packages and things like that that exist. I don� t have the same opportunity at the samejob don� t have the same opportunity at the same job that my grandfather had over a0 years ago when he started. Voting for strike action is, of course, not anything that any worker takes lightly. So why did you vote for strike action . We voted for vote for strike action . We voted for strike vote for strike action . Voted for strike action because the Company Needs to understand that if they don� t come with a fair agreement, that helps all workers, that we are going to with hold our labour. You know, we� re going to with hold our labour from the company. Were going to with hold our labour from the company. Now, ou labour from the company. Now, you mentioned labour from the company. Now, you mentioned that labour from the company. Now, you mentioned that the labour from the company. Now, you mentioned that the job i labour from the company. Now, you mentioned that the job is i you mentioned that the job is not the samejob you mentioned that the job is not the same job that your grandfather had enjoyed, but the employers would say that society is not the same society either and the Economic Conditions are not the same either. Can you understand their argument as to why they feel they can� t go for the a0 pay increase . I feel they cant go for the 40 pay increase . Feel they cant go for the 4096 pay increase . Pay increase . I would say to them, the pay increase . I would say to them, the weather pay increase . I would say to them, the weather changesl pay increase . I would say to l them, the weather changes as well but we� ve got some boots and amendments and jackets that we protect ourselves with and that� s what the uaw is trying to do for the workforce, the entire middle class. The president entire middle class. The president of entire middle class. The president of your entire middle class. The president of your union, shawn fein said that this is a defining moment, that the world is watching. Why do you think he� s framing it in those terms because the uaw and the Union Created the middle class in america and even worldwide. They gave us an opportunity to have our voices heard and they bridged the gaps between the haves and the have notes. And it seems we� ve circled back into that same era. And it is historic, of course, to strike at all three of the big three at all three of the big three at the same time. What� s the mood like amongst your members . Its mood like amongst your members . It� s a little bit of anxiety. A little bit of excitement and uncertainty, like anything. But we were prepared if this would happen. I want to make it very clear that we did not want this to happen. Wejust want clear that we did not want this to happen. We just want to go to happen. We just want to go to work every day, put in an honest day� s work and be paid an honest day� s wage. And the company has not met that honest day� s wage requirement. We� ve been working every single day, as is evident of the record profitsment and they� re getting compensated but we weren� t. find compensated but we werent. And have ou compensated but we werent. And have you heard compensated but we werent. And have you heard from the employers today about any of that . ,. , , that . Not from the higher ups. I dont know that . Not from the higher ups. I dont know that that . Not from the higher ups. I dont know that our that . Not from the higher ups. I dont know that our ceo i that . Not from the higher ups. I dont know that our ceo has l i don� t know that our ceo has even come to the table yet. So he� s still absent. We haven� t heard anything from him. We� ve heard anything from him. We� ve heard from our uaw leadership. We� ve heard from our president , our Vice President. We� ve heard from our president , ourVice President. But we we� ve heard from our president , our Vice President. But we have not heard anything from the ceo, and at the plant, it� s just kind of quiet right now. Almost the calm before the storm, so to speak. Almost the calm before the storm, so to speak. Now, these lants storm, so to speak. Now, these plants are storm, so to speak. Now, these plants are all storm, so to speak. Now, these plants are all big storm, so to speak. Now, these plants are all big employers i storm, so to speak. Now, these plants are all big employers in l plants are all big employers in the areas in which they� re located. What is the sense in the wider region . Is there support for what you� re doing . Is there concern about what the potential impact will be on the local economy . Potential impact will be on the local economy . Theres always concern. Obviously, local economy . Theres always concern. Obviously, the concern. Obviously, the companies provide us with a wage. We take those wages and we spend them directly in our local areas. We frequent our local areas. We frequent our local markets, our local restaurants, other businesses and independent areas. So it� s got a wide range of effect on the economy. 0n the local area, and the local area has been supporting us. They� ve always been supportive of us with whatever we need. 50. Been supportive of us with whatever we need. So, how do ou see whatever we need. So, how do you see this whatever we need. So, how do you see this all whatever we need. So, how do you see this all ending whatever we need. So, how do you see this all ending up i you see this all ending up then . I you see this all ending up then . , you see this all ending up then . , then . I mean, the could end before it then . I mean, the could end before it started then . I mean, the could end before it started if then . I mean, the could end before it started if the i before it started if the company bargained fairly and came with an offer that actually would have made us whole. They pushed this narrative that we� re a family and that we� re looking out for each other. But how are you a family when you� re paying one member of yourfamily family when you� re paying one member of your family less than the other member of your family . And they� re doing the exact samejob . It family . And they� re doing the exact same job . It doesn� t make sense to me, so i believe that� s a false narrative that the company has pushed they could have avoided all of this if they had just been honest and fair. If they had ust been honest and fair. ,. , i. If they had ust been honest and fair. ,. ,. , ~ if they had ust been honest and fair. ,. ,. , ~. , and fair. How do you think that it will ennow and fair. How do you think that it will ennow that and fair. How do you think that it will ennow that the and fair. How do you think that it will ennow that the strike i it will ennow that the strike has begun . It will ennow that the strike has beuun . , has begun . Hopefully they come to the table has begun . Hopefully they come to the table and has begun . Hopefully they come to the table and realise has begun . Hopefully they come to the table and realise they i to the table and realise they made a mistake. And like any good family, we have to dust up and shake hands and go about our ways mutually agreeing that they need to do what we asked for. ~. ,. ,. , for. Ok, well, i know that you have a picket for. Ok, well, i know that you have a picket line for. Ok, well, i know that you have a picket line to for. Ok, well, i know that you have a picket line to get i for. Ok, well, i know that you have a picket line to get to, i have a picket line to get to, so i� ll let you go, but thank you so much forjoaning us. The Vice President of the uaw local 51. Thanks forjoining us. Thank you very much for letting our voices be heard. We appreciate the platform and go uaw. So that� s the view from the workers� side of things. Before we get to the view of the carmakers, let� s focus more now on what� s keeping the two sides apart. Among the union� s demands includes a 36 wage increase over four years. Automakers have responded with wage increases ranging from 19. 5 to 20 paid out over a a. 5 year contract. Mary barra is head of gm, and has been speaking to our us media partner, cbs news, about her company� s offer. I� m very proud of the offer we put to the table last night or yesterday because it is a record from gross wage increase perspective and are 115 year history as well as maintaining strong healthcare, world class strong healthca re, world class that strong healthcare, world class that our employees enjoy. 0ne that our employees enjoy. One thing that is very important is for thejob thing that is very important is for the job security perspective. In this contract we have product and work for everything one of our plants, that did not happen by accident, it happened because a few years back as we started to plan for this historic transformation from internal combustion engines to evs but not weird however all the people because one of them to come with us on this journey and one reason why we developed power units internally so they could be built at the plants were today the internal and button and it has worked. We are working on is very hard, so we have to strip off on the table and with we are at the table and with we are at the table now ready to keep going and resolve this as quickly as possible. Mary barra of General Motors there. Now, this uaw strike come after decades of declining Union Membership rates among us workers. In 1983, one in five us employees were members of a union or about 20 . Fast forward to last year, and it was just about half that 1983 figure with only one in ten workers being in a union. There are many reasons for this, of course. Automation of certain tasks in factories for on. Jobs moving overseas in an increasingly globalised economy is another. And there have been new generations of workers who simply want to seek alternative opportunities. Let� s talk a bit now about this auto workers� strike fits into the wider trends in the Us Labour Movement. Lane windham is a labour historian and associate director of Kalmanovitz Initiative for labour and the working poor at georgetown university. I spoke to her a little earlier to get her analysis thanks forjoining us. Let� s start by looking at the uaw strike that has been called. Its strike that has been called. It� s the last ideas as it fourthly of the big three Car Manufacturers with a strike at the same time. Why is this drug action so different and so serious . Action so different and so serious . , serious . So yes, this is an historic serious . So yes, this is an historic action, serious . So yes, this is an historic action, like serious . So yes, this is an historic action, like you i serious . So yes, this is an i historic action, like you said, the first time in 80 plus years of the uaw that they have a all the big three automakers, of course 13,000 workers are now on strike. If all 150,000 workers went off on strike, then the two strikes happening in the us now at uaw and with the actors and writers, eye would make it the two largest rates in the last 20 years happening simultaneously in the us. We are not used to this level of work action and collective activity in labour so it feels very different here. ~ ,. , ~ so it feels very different here. ~ ,. , ~. , here. Why do you think that is happening here. Why do you think that is happening now here. Why do you think that is happening now and here. Why do you think that is happening now and obviouslyl happening now and obviously could add to that the rail strike that almost happened at the end of last year as well. Why is there this sudden level of extra agitation, as you say, seeing here . Aha, of extra agitation, as you say, seeing here . Of extra agitation, as you say, seeing here . A lot of people of course have seeing here . A lot of people of course have been seeing here . A lot of people of course have been calling i seeing here . A lot of people of course have been calling it i seeing here . A lot of people of course have been calling it the| course have been calling it the hot labour summer. It� s hot because unemployment is low but it is really more than that. This is part of what you might call a post pandemic worker upsurge. There is a lot more worker activism in the last few years. I think during the pandemic people re evaluated what they are willing to take from a job, what they� re to expect and people banged pots and pans for essential workers and pans for essential workers and then watch as people went back to those same old jobs, and people i think have a different mindset about the workplace and the post pandemic era. They are demanding more and of course when some workers go out on strike like at the uaw, it can turbocharge sort of the whole movement. There is a lot of momentum happening with 70 workers striking and organising, and so i think seeing that in many sectors across the economy. It seeing that in many sectors across the economy. If unions are taking across the economy. If unions are taking a across the economy. If unions are taking a harder across the economy. If unions are taking a harder line, i across the economy. If unions are taking a harder line, can l are taking a harder line, can we expect to see employers doing something similar, when you look at the Hollywood Screen actors and Writers Strike that is going on for quite some months now, we don� t know what� s going to happen with the uaw strike and how long that will last. But there is a hardening of both positions . I is a hardening of both positions . Is a hardening of both positions . I think that employees positions . I think that employees in positions . I think that employees in the i positions . I think that employees in the us i positions . I think that i employees in the us are not used to workers pushing back at level bailout. And they are beginning to recalibrate how they are going to work with their employees who are engaging in collective action. We recently saw that nearly 200,000 ups workers almost went on strike, members of the union, that strike did not happen in part because it looks like ups realised, 0k, there is lots of activity, these workers are ready to walk. So those teamsters were able to deal with the two tier wage system thatis with the two tier wage system that is the same sort of thing the uaw is trying to do. Yes, some employers decide, we have to rethink what we are asking of our employees and we may have to come and had a different level in terms of our negotiations stop is there a place for federal intervention in any of this . In any of this . Particularly the strike in any of this . Particularly the strike of in any of this . Particularly the strike of uaw in any of this . Particularly the strike of uaw strike, l in any of this . Particularly| the strike of uaw strike, if in any of this . Particularly i the strike of uaw strike, if it goes on for a long time and results in all nearly 150,000 workers out, there is a potential for a workers out, there is a potentialfor a massive potential for a massive Economic Impact potentialfor a massive Economic Impact notjust of the region but the whole of the us . Under an act of 19a7 President Biden has the authority to call for an 80 day cooling off period that is different than what he did under the rail word workers strike. That wasn� t different law, the Railroad Labour act and that allows president ial administration a heavier hand in stepping into a labour dispute. The administration would have the capacity to call for a cooling off period. I� m not sure that President Biden will do that, however. � ,. , President Biden will do that, however. � ,. , however. Its an interesting one for him, however. Its an interesting one for him, isnt however. Its an interesting one for him, isnt it, however. Its an interesting one for him, isnt it, givenl one for him, isn� t it, given how he kinda prides himself on coming from that working class background and speaking for workers and fairness. Workers and fairness. Yes, absolutely. Workers and fairness. Yes, absolutely, the workers and fairness. Yes, absolutely, the biden i absolutely, the Biden Administration has prided itself on being very prounion and supporting working people. Just over labour day the administration came up with a new study from the Us Treasury Department affirming the unit advantage, that Union Workers make 10 15 more than workers who don� t have a union. And also, narrow gender and racial wage gaps so the administration has definitely been a supportive for workers� rights to organise and collective action. , , action. The other issue with the situation action. The other issue with the situation at action. The other issue with the situation at the action. The other issue with i the situation at the automakers and with uaw is the environment of policies and how they impact upon long standing industries. We hear a lot of talk about the need for a just transition. Powders, how can that be delivered and practised here for these workers whether industries are changing so much industries are changing so much in terms of moving to Green Technologies and away from fuels to more Sustainable Energy models . Fuels to more Sustainable Energy models . Right, so technology. Energy models . Right, so technology, the Energy Models . Right, so technology, the question | Energy Models . Right, so i technology, the question of technology, the question of technology is not so much, can workers stop technology as much as who is going to have power over it. This is the same question that we see and in the writers and actors strike with the use of artificial intelligence. Auto workers are saying we understand that there is going to be a transition to electric vehicles. We want to have a say and power in that in that transition. And in part that transition. And in part thatis that transition. And in part that is why they are really holding the line and making demands now and walking the picket line because they understand that there is a massive transformation happening in the industry. They want to make sure that their rights, their standard of living is protected during the transition. Living is protected during the transition. ,. ,. ,. , transition. Plenty more to talk about on this transition. Plenty more to talk about on this but transition. Plenty more to talk about on this but we transition. Plenty more to talk about on this but we will i transition. Plenty more to talkj about on this but we will leave it there. Lane windham, labour historian at georgetown university, thank you for joining us. University, thank you for joining us university, thank you for joining us. Terrific, thank ou. And finally, this uaw strike is historic in its size and scale and will no doubt go down in the history books of the Us Labour Movement but it also has direct roots in this nation� s history. In fact, in 1937 the very same union the United Auto Workers took part in the first major labour dispute in the us auto industry. It was referred to as the strike heard round the world, and it led directly to increased wages for workers. The symbol of the American Workers remained a potent one for decades. Their role in the American Economy has been diminished somewhat in recent years, as you� ve been hearing. But this strike refocuses that role, and the level of influence with an outcome yet to be determined. That� s all for this special look at labour issues here in the us. Thank you for watching. I� m katrina perry. I� ll be back in 30 minutes with the latest headlines. Stay with us here on bbc news. Take care. Hello there. Most of scotland didn� t have a great day of weather on friday it was wet and cool. However, it was a pretty spectacular end to the day. Look at this sunset viewed from john o� groats in highland, scotland. The rain was with us, though, for most of the day in scotland, Northern Ireland and the far north of england and underneath this rain band as well that didn� t budge all day, it was pretty cool as well. Temperatures, for example, dropping in newcastle from 18 on thursday, just highs of 12 degrees on friday with that rain really lingering for much of the day. Now, we� ve still got the same weather front on the charts at the moment and that� s going to be slowly sliding its way southwards, so rainjust edging into parts of northern england. A few thundery showers are possible coming up from cherbourg into the south west of england and they may well rumble away into the far south of wales just as we start the day on saturday. Otherwise, it� s a damp start for northern england. The rest of wales further eastwards, we� ve got some sunshine. Sunshine� s likely to be quite hazy. There will be a bit of high cloud in the sky as we go through the day. Sunny skies start to move southwards across northern and then central scotland. Should brighten up, too, in Northern Ireland. For most temperatures, not that special, but across central and eastern england, another hot day temperatures could hit 26 or 27. Then, for sunday, another change. A band of thundery rain moves up from the south. The amount of rain we see from this is going to vary a lot from place to place but could be enough to bring some localised areas of flooding. And the rain reaches across Northern Ireland to reach western scotland as well. Then, as we go through sunday night, those storms will continue to move their way northwards and eastwards. Into monday, low pressure starts to move in off the atlantic with a couple of weather fronts moving across oui shores. They will be bringing bands of rain and also strengthening westerly winds and, ultimately, a drop in temperatures. But that drop just sees temperatures get closer to average, rather than it being especially cool. So, monday, a blustery day. A band of rain pushes eastwards, the strong winds blowing the rain through. Then, we see a mixture of sunshine and heavy showers, perhaps with a few rumbles of thunder. And for the most part, these temperatures are still above average for september. Now, beyond that, the rest of the week looks very unsettled. Low pressure firmly in charge. It� s often going to be quite wet, it� s often going to be quite windy but, for the most part, although it� s not hot, temperatures will stay above average for september. This is bbc news. We will have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. Margaret atwood. One of the world� s best selling critically acclaimed authors, she� s published more than 60 books, and has won the booker prize twice. The winner of the first booker prize of the 21st century, margaret atwood. Cheering and applause. Her stories often centre on oppression and brutality. Most famously, her 1985 novel, the handmaid� s tale, a dystopian vision of america, in which women are enslaved. Now an Emmy Award Winning television series. There� s an eye in your house. In this episode of this cultural life, the radio a programme, she reveals her formative influences and experiences. And how even in high school, her creativity was clear. I put on a Home Economics opera. It was about fabrics. Can you remember how it goes . Fabrics need a swim in the suds. It makes them feel just like new. Plink plink, plink plink
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