UAW’s President Fain channeling Walter Reuther during automaker strike

Director of the Higgins Labor Program of the Center for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame, Daniel Graff, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the program. Graff also discussed the comparison between UAW President Shawn Fain and former UAW leader Walter Reuther and the true importance of President Joe Biden joining the UAW picket line.

The Higgins Labor Program began as an organization that educates and researches any labor question. Many of the college students today don’t have any knowledge of the times when the labor movement was strongest. Students who seek out the program are usually attracted to the program based on their interest in labor history. To assist the program's outreach efforts, they host a Labor Cafe on Friday’s in the fall on Notre Dame’s campus, and recent student support has shown Graff a generational interest in labor he’s not seen before.

With the recent United Autoworker strike, Graff believes that President Shawn Fain is channeling the teaching of former UAW President Walter Reuther. Many of the policies the UAW seeks to restore were wins made by Reuther and the UAW. The use of media and public scrutiny to leverage the negotiations with the Big Three Automakers in Detroit is similar to how Reuther would use the media throughout his tenure. Many more similarities are outlined between Reuther and Fain as Graff shares why these discussions are more important for the labor movement than just the strike by the UAW.

Finally, the historic visit by President Biden to an active picket line reflects the efforts to grow unions and the middle class. During his visit, Biden worked with Fain to grow relations between the unions and the government. From what it appeared to Graff, the importance of middle-class and union support is represented in Biden’s appearance. Ensuring that unions succeed and more workers join the middle class has been a part of Biden’s presidency, but now we’re seeing him take that message to the people, Graff said.

To hear more from Graff on the UAW strike, please play the episode above.