Unions Can’t Resolve Deepening Capitalist Crisis
September 18—Fifty thousand US auto workers are striking against GM. It’s the first United Auto Worker (UAW) strike since 2007. Workers are striking for higher wages, to reopen idled plants (4 more were closed recently), to add jobs at other plants and to close or narrow the growing pay differences between new hires and veteran workers. GM wants the workers to pay a bigger part of their health care costs.
Another key issue is the use of temporary workers, who work alongside permanent workers, but receive lower wages and worse health benefits and retirement plans.
The auto industry is in decline worldwide. Forbes says that over 4 million fewer cars will be sold in 2019 than last year. Markets in China, the US, India and worldwide are shrinking. This is part of the deepening crisis of overproduction. All the auto makers are competing for shrinking market share.
No reform demand can resolve this or guarantee auto workers their jobs will be secure! Capitalism is based on competition for maximum profit. Crises are built in to it. And this will inevitably lead to World War III.
Auto workers in the US and worldwide need to mobilize for communist revolution. In communism there won’t be such a thing as overproduction—or competition. Workers will collectively produce just what our class needs—without money or bosses. Capitalism’s wage system is a chain around our necks. We can’t make it fair. We have to get rid of it.
The Communist Party USA organized the UAW as a militant union, instead of organizing for revolution. Today, the UAW has shrunk along with the US auto industry. ICWP is fighting for communist revolution, the only way to guarantee useful work for everyone, where no one will live better than anyone else, and everyone’s contribution will be valued. We urge auto workers to read and spread Red Flag and to join us!
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