The UAW Strike
Echoes of a Legacy Worth Fighting For
When I read about the UAW’s current stand-off with General Motors and Stellantis, my thoughts immediately turned to my grandfathers. They were part of the courageous wave of the Great Migration, moving “Up South” (aka to Michigan) to seek better opportunities away from the confines of being Southern sharecroppers and abject poverty. They found hope and solace working for GM and Pontiac, institutions that not only gave them jobs but a promise of a brighter future. But it wasn’t just the companies that provided them this chance — it was the power of collective bargaining and unity, the UAW, that ensured their hard work was justly rewarded.
For my grandfathers, being a UAW member wasn’t just about being part of a union. It was the ticket to the American dream: a home of their own, the ability to raise a family without the ever-looming shadow of financial instability, a chance to save for the future, and ultimately, the possibility of retirement without the burden of broken bodies. The UAW gave them the leverage to demand and attain these rights. They worked with dignity, went on vacations, took sick leaves when needed, and, most importantly, they were part of the fabric of the American middle class.
Today, as UAW workers rise in protest, some might focus on the potential disruptions in the supply chain, fretting about the delay in car repairs at dealerships. But these inconveniences pale in comparison to the larger narrative at play. The struggle of today’s UAW workers resonates with the aspirations of countless workers from generations before, like my grandfathers, who believed in the promise of a better life.
The ethos of the UAW’s current struggle is crystal clear. It’s about ensuring that every worker has the right to financial stability, the possibility to own property, the means to provide a solid education for their children, and the hope to pass down a legacy to future generations. This is not about luxury; this is about fundamental human dignity and the right to a middle-class life.
Unions like the UAW don’t just fight for wages or annual leave; they battle for the soul of the American dream. A dream where labor is respected, where the sweat of one’s brow is appropriately compensated, and where every worker, regardless of their job title, can proudly claim their place in the vast mosaic of the American middle class.
As the strikes expand and the tension escalates, I urge the public to see beyond the immediate disruptions. Let’s remember the stories of individuals like my grandfathers, who built their lives and dreams on the foundation of union efforts. Let’s rally behind today’s UAW workers, not just for their cause, but for the preservation of a legacy, a promise, and a dream that has defined the aspirations of countless Americans for generations.
In their stand, I see the echoes of my grandfathers’ dreams. I stand in solidarity with the UAW, not just for the past, but for the future of the American worker.
