9/4/2023

We celebrate Labor Day to celebrate and honor members of trade and labor unions.

It came about during the height of the Industrial Revolution as activists and labor unions fought for the better treatment of workers.

Interesting … a big push for labor negotiation during the heightened expansion of industry.

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Flash forward to 2023.

We’re in another industrial revolution of sorts.

Near-shoring.

For the first time in many years, US Manufacturing Growth outpaces manufacturing growth in the rest of the world.

Advances in automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning all add to the increases in output.

But even with these advanced capabilities, it is no secret that there are shortages of workers everywhere.


There is a large strike taking place with the Screen Actors Guild currently. Some of the reasons for this strike are because of new technologies.

Increases in streaming cuts into the residuals paid out to actors and there is an increase in the use of AI and digital recreation which means less demand for the use of actors.


Anyone even remotely close to the Automotive industry has seen the escalation in demands being made by the UAW and their leader. A strike is most likely going to happen and the UAW strike fund of $825M will last about 12 weeks for affected workers of the top 3 US Automakers.

Traditional UAW strikes focused on better wages, reasonable hours and safer working conditions. The current chips on the bargaining table from the UAW are also about money and hours including a wanted pension for workers and also to be paid for 40 hours of work, while only working 32 hours.

Both sides of the UAW negotiations have made their positions visible through social media, which also is a new wrinkle in the modern social media area.

According to a study by Cornell University, strikes usually last about 5 days.

I hope I’m wrong, but based on the rhetoric from the UAW, I think they’ll likely push closer to 12 weeks than 5 days.

All depends on what happen behind close doors, even with the signs of transparency from both sides.


Wild times and new wrinkles in demands or same old same old?

Striking back or striking out?


If the next few months are anything, they will be interesting.

I had a great 2023 Labor Day in Ludington, MI and trust you did as well.

70-89, sunshine.

Make it a great day everyone!

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