The united auto workers and the political economy of the north-american labor movement

Abstract

Perhaps no other labor union represents the trajectory of North- American unionism in the twentieth century as well as the United Auto Workers (UAW). Founded in 1935, in the heart of the fordist factory, having actively taken part in the formulation and consolidation of the New Deal Order, the UAW faces, today, challenges such as the strong international competition among auto companies, the redefinition of the regulatory capacities of Nation-States and labor unions, and changes in the industrial labor process. This article aims to present a general overview of the history of the union, as well as some of the challenges it faces today.