Strike pits US car union in existential struggle over shift to EVs

The US autoworkers strike is about a lot more than pay and conditions. Carmakers are building batteries with non-union labour, while electric vehicle production may require fewer workers overall.

Claire Bushey, Taylor Nicole Rogers and Peter Campbell

Sep 17, 2023 – 12.01pm

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The car industry is one of the more heavily unionised parts of the US economy – and United Auto Workers are striking in part to ensure that remains the case, even as the transition to electric vehicles threatens to shrink its workforce.

At midnight on Thursday (Friday AEST), thousands of workers walked out of three plants, all of which make trucks or sport utility vehicles powered by petrol.

Financial Times