How Workers Are Winning the Class War with Shawn Fain
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- čas přidán 29. 06. 2024
- After Volkswagen workers' historic union win, we sat down with UAW President Shawn Fain for an exclusive interview.
Shawn Fain opened up to us about his journey into labor organizing, what it has taken to get the UAW where it is today, and what the win in Chattanooga will do for labor movements across the south.
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Companies will never suddenly feel bad and give you workers rights. You have to fight for it
Agree, the business is focused on its shareholders not its workers. Glad the UAW stood strong!
No.... you have to earn it. Those of us who excel at what we do are rewarded richly for it. YOU want to be rewarded for being part of a mob. You've watched this silly game played over and over again. Make unrealistic demands.... win concessions by using FORCE.... then watch helplessly as your jobs move elsewhere. You will never learn. Pathetic.
It's that way in life too. You will never be just handed things, you have to work for them.
It's just that this doesn't always have to mean working for the ruling class.
@@johnnynick6179 It's almost like the capitalists are the problem.
@@johnnynick6179You want to spread fairytales. Those just don't matter.
Shawn is the best leader we've had in a long time
damn straight, everyone deserves to hear him speak, we need millions more like shawn!
Can I like this multiple times?
Real Christian, no fake
Fain for president!
Everytime I hear his name, I think of sinn fein (Irish political party, unsure of its beliefs).
Shawn Fain is the real deal. Class consciousness. It's about time. No more sellouts.
Lmao
How is Shawn Fain not the Times person of the year! This man is national treasure!
Times only supports the extractive class not those who threaten hoarded wealth
Time supports capitalists and fun things that rich capitalists create to sell their products (like actors and athletes)
“NormⒶlize worker and housing cooperatives. Workers make society run, workers should run society.🏡☭⚙️”
Stop censoring our comments CZcams!
@@piku5637CZcams gets worse every year. They censor worse than Twitter. They will never get a penny out of me.
Bassed
@@hotshot-te9xw Drop the bass
We will make it happen ☭
Corporations have been waging war on labor since -the 1970s- well, since labor organizing existed. It took this long to have a labor leader who understands that this is a war for American hearts and minds, and it can be won because we don't like tyrants of any stripe, political or economic.
RFK Jr walked the picket lines with striking UAW workers. It was not just a photo op like other candidates do. Kennedy spent time and listened. Don't forget that Biden betrayed the railroad workers by taking away their power to strike and Trump is not interested in backing unions. Kennedy is the only real pro-union candidate. He is committed to rebuilding the middle class as the centerpiece of his platform and we need unions to do that.
Don't you think it is odd that Mar A Lago was built in the late 1920s.
How about this one. Oh and one of those Dodge women did not like the original 80,000 sq. ft. 'house'. Had it tore down.. Replaced it with a 100,000 sq. ft.
Note the day this one was made.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Terrace_(Grosse_Pointe_Farms%2C_Michigan)
Oh and this.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Delphine_(1921)
The funny part of this. Mother's 1st husband was on the Ford side of this and her Brothers and father were on the union side. Even more grandpa bought Harve Bennett's first house.
The part left out. Al Capone backed the union. Why? Because he supplied the workers with liquor, gambling and women in East Dearborn. Ford had the Dearborn Inn.
Harry 'Harve' Bennett also was one of the Purple Gang.
www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-ford-motor-company-won-a-battle-and-lost-ground-45814533/
This class struggle predates capitalism itself. The struggle between the serfs and the feudal lords was also very much a thing.
If it wasn't for unions we would still be working 80 hour work weeks, Child labor would be legal
bullshit
@@FJB2020huh? They're literally the ones who fought for it, and corporations fought to maintain how things were. How do you figure?
@@FJB2020 It’s true.
We’re taught that in the 5th grade
80 hour workweeks are slowly creeping back as fewer and fewer people are willing to break their backs for less than minimum wage (realistically, the minimum wage being $28-30 per hour with inflation), and child labor is still very much legal in a way. It's still happening, it has been happening for a while now, and the government protected owner class will not be punished for it.
Did anything really change?
Yes lots has changed. Are there ten year olds still in the mines?
I don't know what your trying to do here but you are wrong.
Shawn is immaculate and I'm glad that he emphasizes that it's not him or a president that's going to save us, it's US that's going to save us. Solidarity forever!
I think you mean “articulate “.
We need one member, one vote in ALL unions. Period. There is a direct corolation between what’s going on here and the fact that Mr. Fain and Mr. O’Brien of the Teamsters were directly elected
Flattening between union leadership recently is the change. Devoted workers made it possible!
You hit the nail on the head - when the leadership of any union run as ‘at large’ candidates, it gives the rank and file members accountability. Unions are a Labor Movement, not a business structured like a corporation.
Curious, how do they do voting now? Do workers buy shares in a union and vote as many shares as they have?
@@Kaede-Sasaki one member, one vote. In the past the UAW had a less democratic system that used locals as a type of precinct or district, then districts and precincts were counted.
@@Kaede-Sasaki no one is buying votes. I dont even know what you mean by this
Unions are here to stay and they're going to continue to get stronger and more popular.
With the way capitalism is heading, is there really any other options apart from Unionizing?
We can always wait another 50yrs for trickle down economics to kick in 🤣
Right after Bezos buys a 4th 90 million dollar mansion I’m sure he and his fellow billionaires will rethink their corporations policies and start taking care of their employees. 😂
@@chrisfoxart Revolution. Collectivization. Collapse.
The future is socialism or barbarism.
The fact that Shawn can openly expouse these views of real honest class language is fucking incredible. 10 years ago this wouldve been un heard of. The world is changing. capitalism is falling. wow please continue to organize all over the world. we have nothing to lose but our chains. Solidarity.
This was awesome. I hope more people start organizing for all types. Lets create a retailers union. Lets unionize the Amazon's, Walmarts, Best Buy's, Target's. Workers take back your rights!!! People over profit.
I agree. We need unions across the board to level the playing field and rebuild the middle class. RFK Jr is the candidate who actually walked the picket lines with the UAW strikers. It wasn't just a photo op like other candidates do. Kennedy stayed and listened to the workers.
Biden stripped the railroad workers of their ability to strike, making them powerless against their corporate lords. And Trump certainly has no interest in helping unions. Kennedy is the most genuinely pro-union candidate we have had in decades and he is committed to rebuilding the middle class. It's just one of many reasons to support him.
@@dao8805 czcams.com/video/qLtL6afShA0/video.html
I mean to me he just seems like the candidate that is propped up by welathy people as a anti union candidate for the democrats
A vote for Kennedy is a vote for trump. I'd rather half a union supporter to a criminal who is staunchly anti worker.
@@Daelmn I would never vote for Trump or Biden. They are both party of the duopoly that works for the same elite donors. They are both criminals who sold their souls for $$$$$.
A recent NBC News poll, showed 34% of voters supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr., making him the winner in a 3-way race.
A recent Gallup poll shows Kennedy undeniably ranked FIRST at 52%, with Trump trailing at 42% and Biden last at 41%.
And Kennedy just gained ballot access in the most decisive swing state, Michigan.
Don't let anyone tell you that RFK Jr is just a spoiler or that he can't win. He IS winning. KENNEDY 2024 & 2028
Agree. Retail is a hotbed of worker exploitation and wage theft. Unions are desprately needed.
Congratulations TN auto workers ! ❤🎉❤🎉
Shawn Fain is a real leader and if he ever one day runs for political office, I'd donate to that campaign in a heartbeat.
Solidarity to all workers ✌️
Seriously!!
Shawn Fain for president of the United States!!!
This is SO VERRRY encouraging.
A living wage and mutual respect are ESSENTIAL.
Proud of your work.
Thank you!
Cheering you on!!!
It’s not a miracle. Working people see your honesty, integrity and your humbleness. YOU, Shawn Fain, are the miracle.❤
President Fain for POTUS
Labor Secretary would be the perfect position for him
@@unclebozo9845nah, I want this dude appointing the secretary of commerce, interior, the board of the SEC, as well as the labor secretary.
Maybe in 10 years, he needs to stay right where he is at now. He’s making way bigger impact than he could in the U.S. government sadly.
@@BHPOfficialYou may be right, but he has shown other leaders the way
We can't wait 10 years. The country needs to unite ASAP.
Shawn Fain is a revolutionary, honestly. He represents a huge paradigm shift.
Tons of people still think unions are the enemy. E.g. ram trucks being priced at near $100k and shipping prices through ups being ridiculous. They're forgetting though that the prices of those things were out of control a few years before the contracts were re-negotiated. I worked for coca cola for 11 years and I can say first hand that if you aren't in a union working for them- you're getting royally screwed. It's very sad to see other people getting paid way less to do the same work, and often more work than a union employee.
He's such a leader and well spoken. All the Power to the UAW in expanding in the south!
Because in 1985 an hour of bare minimum wage work would buy five gallons of gasoline and today that's more than 20 dollars. Because in 1985 starting wages for warehouse labor and roustabouts (two hands, sober and on time = you're hired!) were the inflation adjusted equivalent of $65k/yr. Because in 1985 nationwide average rent was the inflation adjusted equivalent of $1000/mo.
Reference for wages: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1988-89 Edition : Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, No. 2300
I have a lot of respect for Shawn Fain and the persistence he demonstrates on behalf of working men & women.
This man is a national treasure. Hopefully his influence spreads throughout the south and all the major factories get unionized.
Unfortunately companies will shut down their factories and move them abroad to Mexico like they did with China the last time.
It’s essential there be a workers party in the US to prevent such things from happening and help enforce unions as well as prevent actions that hurt unionize like right to work in the south or union busting.
Starbucks has an insane record of union busting over 1000 shops closed and no accountability as of yet.
A courageous, intelligent, and kind man. I’d stand with him any day.
This man is one of the greatest Americans currently alive. He turned a largely dead and corrupt organization into something incredible.
I would elect him for US president immediately, along with Lina Khan
Its funny how the best leaders are often the people least noticed or have the least desire for power.
“Competition is code to a race to the bottom”……I love this man, love this man, love this man!!!!
This whole issue needs more attention, but it seems the mainstream media, both left and right are totally ignoring it. I spend a good chunk of my time reading and watching the current events of the day but I knew nothing of this until just now.
This issue is being buried or totally ignored by the press and that is disgusting.
They laugh it up at the correspondents dinner while all they've focused on is culture war and political nonsense, never REAL issues that REALLY effect our most valuable people: the workers who build this nation.
Shawn Fain is an American Hero.
This guy seems genuine and honest.. hopefully he stays that way 🤞🏽
Unionization en mas is truly a major first step in rebuilding our economic and governmental systems.
I LOVE Shawn Fain! He’s the union leader we need right now!
Kudos to UAW! They are finally back to being a true labor movement, not a business.
We need unions because we see clearly that corporations can't be trusted to do the right thing without them. People deserve to live with dignity. That means getting paid proportionate to their labor.
That's never been a reality in this country, but it was much closer to a reality 30, 40, or 50 years ago.
Love Fain's story, connection w/the working class, humility, & absolute desire to not just stop at 'The Big Three,' but build on that huge win by mobilizing workers in industries across the spectrum!
Shawn Fain is amazing!
Love, love, love Sean Fain! What a breath of fresh air! Speaking truth to our members? What a concept! Sooo tired of the lies and lying liars on the runaway Trump train! We need more of men like him to take back America for us, the workers!!!!!!!!
Sean Fain for US President 2028!
This is an incredible interview. Great to hear a genuine person speak genuinely and represent his faith among others with dignity. Congrats to everyone.
Fain for president🎉
He's too pure of a person to go to Washington
Him, a big labor Democrat? No.
If he's up for it, he can make a great deal of change in Washington. If we want Washington to change, we have to send people who actually represent us and hold them accountable. The GOP has given up on representation, so it falls on the Democrats, and even though most of them are still pro-business, that's the (new) old guard who survived the loss of the Blue Dogs and the Tea Party astroturfed purges. I think there are plenty of opportunities to send people who are more aligned with AOC and Sanders, and even if they end up being "moderate", it's still better than the fascists in the GOP having control.
@@dancarlton7973 "big labor" lmao
YOOO HE GOT AN IBEW DENIM JACKET THATS MY UNION LETS GOOOO
Shawn is a brilliant organizer for Labor. Cheers and solidarity to the workers - ALL workers! This interview gave me shivers!
If you ever wonder why Sweden has 2 YEARS OF PAID FAMILY LEAVE FOR BOTH PARENTS when they have a baby? 98% of Swedish people are in UNIONS
Sweden is a Capitalist country who's companies steal wealth from Africa, Asia, South TurtleIsland, and Oceania.
Unions are at their strongest when they fight for bread AND roses. It's the vision and promise of a more democratic workplace that really inspires people in the end..
Unions are the major groups consistently producing good news, everything else is negative for the majority
This man is truly an inspiration and has nothing but the needs of the people on his mind. Deep respect for him and his beliefs.
Amazing man. I’m not a union member because I’m retired and I was working in a field that didn’t have a union, but I would have love to be represented by somebody that thinks the way I do.
I’m in banking, a non union industry. I’m cheering on Shawn Fain and all the unions and hoping it spreads to industries like mine.
Yes one member, one vote allows the membership to choose their leadership. The election of Shawn Fain is what you get! Voting put the power back in hands of the workers. Solidarity Forever
Shawn Fain for POTUS !! ✊
Workers in every industry are responsible for a good 80 to 90% of the profits. Pretty sure that means we're entitled to those profits and appropriate working conditions and benefits.
I love how workers rights and Labor rights is still a battle we're having a fight in the 21st century. It's time for people and the workforce to get the laws on their side for a change.
I thank God that Unions are BACK! My son in law just became a union member at DHL .❤
When the union’s inspiration through the workers’ blood shall run,
There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun;
Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one,
But the union makes us strong.
Glory, glory hallelujah!
Love, love, love this guy
This was a phenomenal interview! Thanks John! You make the best pro worker videos!
I didn’t think I could like this guy more than I already did. Echoes things that I believe and say every day, for instance, “we are all humans”.
LET'S GO!
Brandon
Thank you for helping the worker
At the end of the day we're the ones that make the world go round. If we can act with solidarity and patience, the world is our oyster. But only together.
Time to organize. We have momentum!
I love Shawn Fain! I am a white collar corporate worker but at the end of the day, we are all part of the working class!
11/10 interview! So glad you could get him on
Shawn Fain is the man! Thank you for your hard work.
So refreshing
America's Mick Lynch. Well done folks, keep it up.
When Unions have Strong Honest Leaders with Integrity, they always win.
Unfortunately, there has not been an honest union leader in the last 75 years.
I was thinking recently how I hadn't heard anything from Mr. Fain in a while, then saw this! GREAT to hear TN VW has joined up with UAW, very happy to see that.
One of the most important things is employees understanding their relationship to their employer as an adversarial one rather than one of "family". I've spent the last 20 years of my life in every job I've had surrounded by coworkers that just assume it must be the case that management and the bosses truly care about them as individuals. I always try my best to disabuse coworkers of the notion that someone who pays them wages or whose job it is to literally control and manage them could ever be in relationship with them in any way akin to their mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters. Sadly, only after unbelievable and repeated abuse and exploitation do many people even begin to question that corporatist framing of their workplace relationship, if they ever question at all.
I hope that working people will once again have a general de facto understanding of classes and which side they are on, even as youngsters going into the workforce for the first time. This is a very necessary step in the right direction for actually having the ability to take back control of our lives and change this world for the better.
Can we nominate Shawn Fain for Time Magazine's 2025 person of the year?
Keep going, Shawn and UAW!
Thank you, Shawn Fain.
101 For The People !!!!!!!
Love this guy ❤
Mr Fain, I appreciate you so much. You seem like a no nonsense type leader who understands workers. Thank you for all you do.
Shawn Fain is a freaking hero! He has real integrity and intelligence. Huge Congratulations to Mr. Fain and all the workers at VW!
This man gives me so much hope
United we stand, divided we fall.
Beautifully said ❤
I was talking to my partner about this and why it's a good reason to be optimistic. We are seeing that the workers are sick of it and willing to fight for what they deserve. Let's gooooooo
Shawn is a lovely and well educated human as well. I'm glad that the UAW have someone who appears to actually stand up for workers.
Solidarity FOREVER
Because companies have been posting record profits for years while giving their workers less not more and demanding they work harder longer hours, it's a real simple question to answer.
This was really good. Shawn Fain is inspiring as is the work you at a "More Perfect Union" do. Thank you
Go Unions! Excellent leadership, Mr. Fain
Shawn Fain, my dearest president. What a fucking CHAD
Great interview and convo. Much appreciated, much love. Cheers
I support unions, but from being in a state where unions were used to protect drunks I think it's important we remember unions are only effective when they have the input of all. If we treat unions like we did our government and just assume it'll have our best interests at heart while we work on other things, unions will become a problem too. We need to remember it's our collective attention that fixes issues, not just the tools the collective uses.
TLDR: Support your local community, any and every, way you can, including unions. "If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together" -African Proverb
Yep, if your union leadership is corrupt change the elections to occur more often.
I thought unions are self governing??? So if everyone has a say, why would they fall apart? That’s counter productive
@@vivalaletawhich is something that happened recently with the UAW and is the source of their wins. The TDU and the move to direct democracy in the union is what we need
@@chrisfoxart because the fight for power is a brutal one that invades all corners of our lives and this world...
Shawn mentions that the union didn't really start supporting the workers until the UAW reversed the weighted voting policy. If I remember correctly the order was: the UAW voted out the weighted policy, voted in Shawn as union boss, voted on a strike, and voted on a new contract... could be a coincidence, but I feel it is proof that institutions with a true leader, a leader accountable to the cause, can achieve amazing results. Before Shawn the UAW had no leaders publicly advocating for a strike...
Shawn Fain is the best!!
I live in Detroit, great guest to have one nothing but respect.
What a great dude with great ideas. He could use a public speaking class though, or at least write what he wants to say down. He was a bit rambly and all over the place. Looking forward to what this guy can do to reform his union!
Great man, great words!
A Leader! Power to the people
Such a valuable interview for labor rights awareness.
I work at Volkswagen. The local Chattanooga born and bred management had been running over us since 2019.
Best leader in the country. Love to see these wins!
God, this guy rocks so much. Congrats to the UAW
I wish thw avaiation industry had unions and leaders like this guy. I had to leave it due to exact same reasons he speaks of.
This man is literally the most important American on the planet. He is the leader we've been waiting for. We must protect him at all costs! ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏻✊🏾✊🏿✊🏻✊🏾✊🏿✊🏻✊🏾✊🏿✊🏾✊🏻✊🏾✊🏿✊🏻✊🏾✊🏻✊🏿✊🏻✊🏾✊🏾
We are listing to a true modern American hero
Good job shawn for the unions