Experts Available to Discuss UAW Strike

The historic UAW strike has begun. If you are looking for experts to interview for your story, consider these Syracuse University faculty members who are available for interview. You may also quote their comments below.

• Matthew Huber, professor of geography and the environment at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs
• Lynne Vincent, assistant professor of management at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management
• Tod Rutherford, professor of geography and the environment at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs

He wrote this ahead of the strike: “The UAW potential strike action is ultimately trying to realize one of the Biden Administration’s core policy goals and political selling points: you can have good, family-sustaining union jobs alongside climate action. The problem is the automakers see EV production as a way to trim labor costs and shift production to non-union plants. The UAW’s ultimate proposal is that if it takes less labor to produce EVs, why not shorten working hours and maintain pay with the cost of living? This would certainly lend credence to the Biden Administration’s claim that climate action can improve working and middle class lives.”

If you’d like to schedule an interview with Professor Huber, please reach out to Vanessa Marquette, media relations specialist, at vrmarque@syr.edu.

Professor Vincent, recently spoke with Reckon News and WAER-FM about the auto industry strikes.

Professor Vincent, who specializes in industrial and labor relations, wrote this ahead of the strike: “What I appreciate about their issues is the clear communication of their values and interests. Their concerns are represented well in the range of issues, and, as an outsider, it appears that they are open to achieving their goals in different ways. Underlying their requests is the need for job security, financial security, and work/life balance. Employees working more hours does not always mean more productivity or more efficiency. Organizations should think analytically and creatively about what work arrangements best support all of the stakeholders.”

Professor Rutherford specializes in the area of economic restructuring and labor and the automobile industry. He spoke with Marketplace on Sept. 18, 2023 about the ongoing labor struggle between the UAW and automakers and remains available for interviews. 

If you’d like to schedule an interview with Professors Vincent or Rutherford, please reach out to Daryl Lovell, assistant director of media relations at dalovell@syr.edu.