The UAW, International is an international union representing a diverse group of workers in almost all sectors of the economy. One of the largest unions in North America, the UAW has approximately 710,000 active members, including the largest number of graduate student employees of any U.S. labor union. Since its founding in 1935, the UAW has consistently been at the forefront of collective bargaining milestones. They are responsible for such achievements as the first employer-paid health insurance plan for industrial workers, the first cost-of-living allowances, as well as landmark job and income security provisions (Gabin, 1980).
In addition to the UAW's success at the bargaining table, they have always been leaders in the fight for social and economic justice. The UAW has been actively involved in every civil rights legislative battle since the 1950's, and has played a vital role in passing such landmark legislation as Medicare, Medicaid, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Employee Retirement Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act. In addition, through vigilant political involvement and coordination with world labor organizations, the UAW continues to fight for enforcement of trade agreement provisions on human and worker rights, fair labor standards, and a new approach to international trade, one which raises the quality of life for working people worldwide (Reuther, 1976).
The UAW has also been one of the foremost labor unions involved in the graduate student employee unionization movement, which has been going on for over 30 years. The UAW represents graduate employees at NYU, which was the first private university to unionize. Overall, they represent more graduate students than any other U.S. union.
The most prominent union representing the U.S. automotive industry has always been the United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers, or UAW. Since its inception, the UAW has represented the......
