>DETROIT (AP) - The United Auto Workers (news - web sites) lost more
>than 90,000
>members last year as slackened U.S. sales caused automakers and
>major suppliers to
>cut blue-collar jobs.
>
>The UAW at the end of 2000 had 671,853 members, down 90,586 from
>762,439 the year
>before, according to the union's annual financial report.
>
>It was the second year in a row that the UAW's membership roster
>sharply declined. In
>1999, membership fell 9.9 percent.
>
>The UAW, which has seen its ranks decline since peaking at 1.5
>million in 1979, has
>increased efforts to recruit workers outside the auto industry by targeting
>universities, hospitals and casinos, The Detroit News reported.
>
>UAW President Stephen Yokich's base salary rose 7.6 percent to
>$125,756 in 2000 from
>$116,864, according to the financial report. His total pay -
>including expenses and
>allowances - slipped 0.9 percent to $145,519.
Hmm. Total U.S. auto employment rose by 2.3% from 1998 to 1999, and fell by just 0.6% from 1999 to 2000. But the UAW ranks were down by 9.9% and 11.9% respectively. Blaming the latest decline on "slackened sales" is hardly a good explanation.
They should tie Yokich's base pay to membership growth; that'd be a spur to organizing.
Doug