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Perceptions of the UAW Strike in America

Extreme Terrain Staff
By: 

Extreme Terrain Staff

 / Sep 28 2023
Perceptions of the UAW Strike in America

Key Takeaways

  • Nearly 4 in 5 Americans support the objectives of the UAW strike.
  • 9 in 10 respondents think it’s likely other industries will see similar labor movements in the near future.
  • 2 in 5 Americans say the strike has given them more negative perceptions of the Detroit Three automakers.
  • Nearly 10% of respondents plan to panic buy a car from a Detroit Three automaker before the strike leads to inventory shortages or price hikes.
  • 64% of Americans are concerned about car costs increasing due to the UAW strike, and 55% are concerned about vehicle shortages.
  • Nearly half of Americans believe the strike will lead to the unionization of Tesla autoworkers.
  • Over 1 in 4 Americans would be more inclined to purchase a Tesla if its manufacturers were unionized.
Contents
  1. Autoworkers Support and Automaker Views
  2. Car Supply Fears Amid Strike

The “Stand Up Strike” by the United Auto Workers (UAW) against prominent auto manufacturers the Detroit Three (Ford Motor Co., General Motors, and Stellantis) has the potential to be a turning point for the automotive industry. To explore public opinions and sentiments on the strike, we surveyed 1,013 American car owners, 33% of whom own a Detroit Three vehicle. Read on to find out what Americans think about the strike and how it may impact their car-buying decisions.

Key Takeaways

  • Only 3 in 5 Detroit Three car owners are aware of the ongoing UAW “Stand Up Strike.”
  • Gen Z offers the highest support for the UAW strike objectives, with generational support as follows:
    • Gen Z (91%)
    • Millennials (85%)
    • Gen X (74%)
    • Baby boomers (54%)
  • 73% of Americans think the UAW strike will lead to positive changes in the automotive industry.
  • 95% of respondents think restoring the cost-of-living allowance adjustment to counteract inflation is important for auto workers.
  • 2 in 5 Americans say the strike has led to more negative perceptions of the Detroit Three.
  • Quotes from owners of Detroit Three vehicles who support the strike:
    • Jeep owner: “I almost always support unions; what they strike for ends up benefiting most other workers, even those who don’t belong to the union (though it takes time). The rights workers have today are thanks to unions, in my opinion. I love that they’re asking for raises for the workers to reflect the CEO’s wage increases.”
    • Chevrolet owner: “The auto industry is so important in this country. I feel we should be doing more to compensate and reward auto workers, so that is why I choose to support this strike.”
    • Ford owner: “While I think they are purposely asking for more than they really expect to get, I think some version of this is what all workers deserve, especially with ballooning salaries for the higher-ups while wages for workers stagnate.”

 

  • Quotes owners of Detroit Three vehicles who oppose the strike:
    • Chevrolet owner: “I oppose the strike because the auto workers are paid more than most blue collar workers, and the things they are asking for are unreasonable. This will just hike up the cost of vehicles for everybody else.”
    • Ford owner: “It isn’t that I don’t want them to have a better life, but I feel those extra costs to the company will be passed on to the consumers and not taken away from the CEOs. I think in the end, the people will be the ones who suffer, and inflation will continue to run up. I think that the CEOs are making too much, however, and think that should be addressed.”



Key Takeaways

  • Owners of Ford Motor Co. vehicles are the most likely to panic buy a new Detroit Three vehicle to avoid inventory shortages or price hikes, with the owner breakdown as follows:
    • Ford and Lincoln owners (19%)
    • GM Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC owners (11%)
    • Stellantis Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram owners (7%)
  • Women (44%) were more hesitant than men (38%) to visit a car dealership during the strikes.
  • 62% of Jeep owners will likely buy another Jeep despite the UAW strike.
  • 60% of Ford owners will likely buy another Ford despite the UAW strike.
  • 36% of Americans think the rise of Tesla and its disruption of the automotive industry has contributed to the current labor disputes and UAW strikes.
  • Nearly half (47%) of Americans believe the UAW strike will lead to the unionization of Tesla auto workers.
  • Over 1 in 4 Americans would be more inclined to purchase a Tesla if its manufacturers were unionized.
  • Owners of GM’s Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC vehicles are the least likely to consider buying a Tesla if workers unionize (only 1 in 5). Vehicle owners more inclined to do so include the following:
    • Hyundai owners (35%)
    • Ford and Lincoln owners (28%)
    • Nissan owners (27%)
    • Stellantis Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram owners (26%)
    • Honda owners (25%)
    • Toyota owners (24%)

 

Striking Changes

Americans expressed overwhelming support for the UAW “Stand Up Strike.” While some vehicle owners have concerns about inventory shortages and price hikes, many believe the changes gained by this strike will lead to positive changes for workers across various industries. Americans also believe the UAW strike can inspire other workers to unionize. While it’s unclear how the UAW strike will end, auto workers can feel confident that the majority of the country is standing behind them.

 

Methodology

To explore perceptions about the current UAW “Stand Up Strike,” we surveyed 1,013 American car owners. Among them, 33% owned a vehicle from one of the brands involved in the strike.

About Extreme Terrain

At Extreme Terrain, we are passionate about empowering Jeep enthusiasts with precise and reliable guidance to select and purchase the finest Jeep components. Specializing in Jeep Wrangler, we offer a variety of high-quality performance parts and accessories designed to transform your vehicle. Whether you’re unsure about the right modifications or looking for expert advice, our knowledgeable team is here to help you create your dream Jeep experience.

Fair Use Statement

You may share this article for noncommercial use only but must link back to this page so readers can access our full findings and methodology.

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