>El Jefe writes:
>
>>Because they're very difficult to organize and because low-wage workers
>>can't pay big dues. That last point is rarely talked about, but several
>>people have told me that the UAW has shied away from organizing relatively
>>low-wage workers in the auto parts industry because there's no financial
>>payoff
>
>So why are they going after the even-more-poorly-paid TAs? Publicity value?
Good question. Maybe they've changed their minds - I was told about their reluctance to organize parts workers about 5 years ago. The UAW does want to organize "knowledge workers" (which is why they absorbed the National Writers Union) - and TAs often grow up to be better-paid knowledge workers. Get 'em while they're young. I also suspect they don't spend a lot of money on organizing TAs, whereas organizing parts workers would be a massive and complicated undertaking.
Member National Writers Union, UAW Local 1981,
Doug