When the union and the company are not able to reach agreement during collective bargaining, then negotiations are at a standstill.
Union members, at this point, have only three options: Give Up, Give In, or Go on Strike.
Strikes are the only real power a union, like the UAW, has, and it's not afraid to put members on the picket line. Since 2001, the UAW has been involved in 130 strikes, which put more than 130,000 of their members out of work.
Take a look at the chart below for a breakdown of the numbers.
|
| Year |
Number Beginning
in Year |
Number of
Workers Involved |
| 2001 |
19 |
7,236 |
| 2002 |
18 |
5,460 |
| 2003 |
17 |
3,732 |
| 2004 |
15 |
11,925 |
| 2005 |
16 |
3,495 |
| 2006 |
8 |
1,995 |
| 2007 |
18 |
80,078 |
| 2008 |
13 |
13,911 |
| 2009 |
3 |
3,160 |
| 2010 |
3 |
2,119 |
| Totals |
130 |
133,111 |
Source: Bureau of National Affairs (BNA PLUS)
When union members are put on the picket line by the UAW, they find out first hand just what they're risking during an economic strike.
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Paychecks from the company may stop.
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Strikers may have to pay the entire premium for any medical, dental and vision insurance policies.
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Economic strikers don't qualify for unemployment in Michigan.
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In an economic strike, strikers may be permanently replaced: The striker will go on a preferential recall list, but a replacement worker has no obligation to give up the job when the strike is over and the employer has no obligation to rehire the striking workers.
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Possible loss of customers from a strike may impact employees' job security.
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