Sanders defended the UAW's demand for a shortened work week and criticized the high salaries of car manufacturers' executives. He pointed out that the CEOs of GM, Ford, and Stellantis had seen their pay increase by 40% between 2013 and 2022, while their workers' real hourly earnings had fallen by about a fifth since 2008. The UAW's striking members are demanding a 40% wage increase, better retirement benefits, job security protections, and a 32-hour work week. Sanders blamed the car industry's top executives for the strike, accusing them of corporate greed.
Key takeaways:
- US Senator Bernie Sanders has called for a serious discussion about reducing the workweek, arguing that the benefits of increased productivity from artificial intelligence and robotics should go to workers in the form of more paid time off.
- Sanders defended the United Auto Workers' demand for a four-day work week, criticizing the large salaries of car manufacturers' executives and the wage disparity between them and their workers.
- About 13,000 workers from the United Auto Workers went on strike against the nation's three biggest carmakers, demanding a 40% wage increase, better retirement benefits, job security protections, and a 32-hour work week.
- Despite 75% of Americans supporting the striking auto workers, the scale of the strike could potentially disrupt the US economy and lead to higher car prices for commuters.