How Workers Are Winning the Class War with Shawn Fain

Рет қаралды 30,365

Күн бұрын

After Volkswagen workers' historic union win, we sat down with UAW President Shawn Fain for an exclusive interview.
Shawn Fain opened up to us about his journey into labor organizing, what it has taken to get the UAW where it is today, and what the win in Chattanooga will do for labor movements across the south.
-----
More Perfect Union is a nonprofit media organization with a mission to build power for working people. Learn more here: perfectunion.us/
Follow us on Twitter: / moreperfectus
Instagram: / perfectunion
Facebook: / moreperfunion
Tiktok: / moreperfectunion

Пікірлер: 519

@invisipanda9298 Ай бұрын

Companies will never suddenly feel bad and give you workers rights. You have to fight for it

@adamb6516 Ай бұрын

Agree, the business is focused on its shareholders not its workers. Glad the UAW stood strong!

@johnnynick6179 Ай бұрын

No.... you have to earn it. Those of us who excel at what we do are rewarded richly for it. YOU want to be rewarded for being part of a mob. You've watched this silly game played over and over again. Make unrealistic demands.... win concessions by using FORCE.... then watch helplessly as your jobs move elsewhere. You will never learn. Pathetic.

@MrMarinus18 Ай бұрын

It's that way in life too. You will never be just handed things, you have to work for them. It's just that this doesn't always have to mean working for the ruling class.

@Leftistattheparty Ай бұрын

@@johnnynick6179 It's almost like the capitalists are the problem.

@RevShifty Ай бұрын

@@johnnynick6179You want to spread fairytales. Those just don't matter.

@judithwyer389 Ай бұрын

Shawn Fain is the real deal. Class consciousness. It's about time. No more sellouts.

@TihetrisWeathersby Ай бұрын

Shawn is the best leader we've had in a long time

@LokiBeckonswow Ай бұрын

damn straight, everyone deserves to hear him speak, we need millions more like shawn!

@XOguitargurlOX Ай бұрын

Can I like this multiple times?

@eringo-bragh4243 Ай бұрын

Real Christian, no fake

@bobbyfartz5591 Ай бұрын

Fain for president!

@Kaede-Sasaki Ай бұрын

Everytime I hear his name, I think of sinn fein (Irish political party, unsure of its beliefs).

@ariw9405 Ай бұрын

How is Shawn Fain not the Times person of the year! This man is national treasure!

@YouSoldMe Ай бұрын

Times only supports the extractive class not those who threaten hoarded wealth

@glumreaper8885 Ай бұрын

Time supports capitalists and fun things that rich capitalists create to sell their products (like actors and athletes)

@zorthomis6497 Ай бұрын

The fact that Shawn can openly expouse these views of real honest class language is fucking incredible. 10 years ago this wouldve been un heard of. The world is changing. capitalism is falling. wow please continue to organize all over the world. we have nothing to lose but our chains. Solidarity.

@piku5637 Ай бұрын

“NormⒶlize worker and housing cooperatives. Workers make society run, workers should run society.🏡☭⚙️”

@piku5637 Ай бұрын

Stop censoring our comments KZfaq!

@mnob1122 Ай бұрын

@@piku5637KZfaq gets worse every year. They censor worse than Twitter. They will never get a penny out of me.

@hotshot-te9xw Ай бұрын

Bassed

@TheModdedwarfare3 Ай бұрын

@@hotshot-te9xw Drop the bass

@kippgoeden Ай бұрын

We will make it happen ☭

@TihetrisWeathersby Ай бұрын

If it wasn't for unions we would still be working 80 hour work weeks, Child labor would be legal

@FJB2020 Ай бұрын

bullshit

@maudley Ай бұрын

@@FJB2020huh? They're literally the ones who fought for it, and corporations fought to maintain how things were. How do you figure?

@shadowsonicsilver6 Ай бұрын

@@FJB2020 It’s true. We’re taught that in the 5th grade

@dave_riots Ай бұрын

80 hour workweeks are slowly creeping back as fewer and fewer people are willing to break their backs for less than minimum wage (realistically, the minimum wage being $28-30 per hour with inflation), and child labor is still very much legal in a way. It's still happening, it has been happening for a while now, and the government protected owner class will not be punished for it. Did anything really change?

@JasonAtlas Ай бұрын

Yes lots has changed. Are there ten year olds still in the mines? I don't know what your trying to do here but you are wrong.

@MMuraseofSandvich Ай бұрын

Corporations have been waging war on labor since -the 1970s- well, since labor organizing existed. It took this long to have a labor leader who understands that this is a war for American hearts and minds, and it can be won because we don't like tyrants of any stripe, political or economic.

@dao8805 Ай бұрын

RFK Jr walked the picket lines with striking UAW workers. It was not just a photo op like other candidates do. Kennedy spent time and listened. Don't forget that Biden betrayed the railroad workers by taking away their power to strike and Trump is not interested in backing unions. Kennedy is the only real pro-union candidate. He is committed to rebuilding the middle class as the centerpiece of his platform and we need unions to do that.

@warrenpuckett4203 Ай бұрын

Don't you think it is odd that Mar A Lago was built in the late 1920s. How about this one. Oh and one of those Dodge women did not like the original 80,000 sq. ft. 'house'. Had it tore down.. Replaced it with a 100,000 sq. ft. Note the day this one was made. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Terrace_(Grosse_Pointe_Farms%2C_Michigan) Oh and this. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Delphine_(1921) The funny part of this. Mother's 1st husband was on the Ford side of this and her Brothers and father were on the union side. Even more grandpa bought Harve Bennett's first house. The part left out. Al Capone backed the union. Why? Because he supplied the workers with liquor, gambling and women in East Dearborn. Ford had the Dearborn Inn. Harry 'Harve' Bennett also was one of the Purple Gang. www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-ford-motor-company-won-a-battle-and-lost-ground-45814533/

@MrMarinus18 Ай бұрын

This class struggle predates capitalism itself. The struggle between the serfs and the feudal lords was also very much a thing.

@stevebeshel9418 Ай бұрын

Unions are here to stay and they're going to continue to get stronger and more popular.

@chrisfoxart Ай бұрын

With the way capitalism is heading, is there really any other options apart from Unionizing?

@Lily-cx1vo Ай бұрын

We can always wait another 50yrs for trickle down economics to kick in 🤣 Right after Bezos buys a 4th 90 million dollar mansion I’m sure he and his fellow billionaires will rethink their corporations policies and start taking care of their employees. 😂

@Leftistattheparty Ай бұрын

@@chrisfoxart Revolution. Collectivization. Collapse. The future is socialism or barbarism.

@TheMrMelodramatic Ай бұрын

Shawn is immaculate and I'm glad that he emphasizes that it's not him or a president that's going to save us, it's US that's going to save us. Solidarity forever!

@gamtngirl3655 13 күн бұрын

I think you mean “articulate “.

@happiersoul Ай бұрын

Shawn Fain for president of the United States!!!

@Jason-kg3oc Ай бұрын

We need one member, one vote in ALL unions. Period. There is a direct corolation between what’s going on here and the fact that Mr. Fain and Mr. O’Brien of the Teamsters were directly elected

@thatwildginger5423 Ай бұрын

Flattening between union leadership recently is the change. Devoted workers made it possible!

@jamesefigueroa4468 Ай бұрын

You hit the nail on the head - when the leadership of any union run as ‘at large’ candidates, it gives the rank and file members accountability. Unions are a Labor Movement, not a business structured like a corporation.

@Kaede-Sasaki Ай бұрын

Curious, how do they do voting now? Do workers buy shares in a union and vote as many shares as they have?

@thatwildginger5423 Ай бұрын

@@Kaede-Sasaki one member, one vote. In the past the UAW had a less democratic system that used locals as a type of precinct or district, then districts and precincts were counted.

@thatwildginger5423 Ай бұрын

@@Kaede-Sasaki no one is buying votes. I dont even know what you mean by this

@conniebrooks3523 29 күн бұрын

Love, love, love Sean Fain! What a breath of fresh air! Speaking truth to our members? What a concept! Sooo tired of the lies and lying liars on the runaway Trump train! We need more of men like him to take back America for us, the workers!!!!!!!!

@naterhodes7760 Ай бұрын

This was awesome. I hope more people start organizing for all types. Lets create a retailers union. Lets unionize the Amazon's, Walmarts, Best Buy's, Target's. Workers take back your rights!!! People over profit.

@dao8805 Ай бұрын

I agree. We need unions across the board to level the playing field and rebuild the middle class. RFK Jr is the candidate who actually walked the picket lines with the UAW strikers. It wasn't just a photo op like other candidates do. Kennedy stayed and listened to the workers. Biden stripped the railroad workers of their ability to strike, making them powerless against their corporate lords. And Trump certainly has no interest in helping unions. Kennedy is the most genuinely pro-union candidate we have had in decades and he is committed to rebuilding the middle class. It's just one of many reasons to support him.

@farispiefler Ай бұрын

@@dao8805 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/p7Kkf5mSy7nMcWQ.html I mean to me he just seems like the candidate that is propped up by welathy people as a anti union candidate for the democrats

@Daelmn Ай бұрын

A vote for Kennedy is a vote for trump. I'd rather half a union supporter to a criminal who is staunchly anti worker.

@dao8805 Ай бұрын

@@Daelmn I would never vote for Trump or Biden. They are both party of the duopoly that works for the same elite donors. They are both criminals who sold their souls for $$$$$. A recent NBC News poll, showed 34% of voters supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr., making him the winner in a 3-way race. A recent Gallup poll shows Kennedy undeniably ranked FIRST at 52%, with Trump trailing at 42% and Biden last at 41%. And Kennedy just gained ballot access in the most decisive swing state, Michigan. Don't let anyone tell you that RFK Jr is just a spoiler or that he can't win. He IS winning. KENNEDY 2024 & 2028

@charvisaur4184 Ай бұрын

Agree. Retail is a hotbed of worker exploitation and wage theft. Unions are desprately needed.

@jonathanhill6064 Ай бұрын

This whole issue needs more attention, but it seems the mainstream media, both left and right are totally ignoring it. I spend a good chunk of my time reading and watching the current events of the day but I knew nothing of this until just now. This issue is being buried or totally ignored by the press and that is disgusting. They laugh it up at the correspondents dinner while all they've focused on is culture war and political nonsense, never REAL issues that REALLY effect our most valuable people: the workers who build this nation. Shawn Fain is an American Hero.

@gamtngirl3655 13 күн бұрын

A courageous, intelligent, and kind man. I’d stand with him any day.

@Zyo117 Ай бұрын

President Fain for POTUS

@unclebozo9845 Ай бұрын

Labor Secretary would be the perfect position for him

@Derek.Mitchell Ай бұрын

⁠⁠@@unclebozo9845nah, I want this dude appointing the secretary of commerce, interior, the board of the SEC, as well as the labor secretary.

@BHPOfficial Ай бұрын

Maybe in 10 years, he needs to stay right where he is at now. He’s making way bigger impact than he could in the U.S. government sadly.

@jonathanf.9395 Ай бұрын

@@BHPOfficialYou may be right, but he has shown other leaders the way We can't wait 10 years. The country needs to unite ASAP.

@kenc1000 28 күн бұрын

“Competition is code to a race to the bottom”……I love this man, love this man, love this man!!!!

@BenDjinn Ай бұрын

Sean Fain for US President 2028!

@sarahhayyyy94 Ай бұрын

Shawn Fain is a real leader and if he ever one day runs for political office, I'd donate to that campaign in a heartbeat.

@jameshoeve4466 Ай бұрын

Congratulations TN auto workers ! ❤🎉❤🎉

@judithmccrea2601 28 күн бұрын

It’s not a miracle. Working people see your honesty, integrity and your humbleness. YOU, Shawn Fain, are the miracle.❤

@loishauger7313 Ай бұрын

Solidarity to all workers ✌️

@Hafafuk Ай бұрын

Seriously!!

@fewworddotrick Ай бұрын

Tons of people still think unions are the enemy. E.g. ram trucks being priced at near $100k and shipping prices through ups being ridiculous. They're forgetting though that the prices of those things were out of control a few years before the contracts were re-negotiated. I worked for coca cola for 11 years and I can say first hand that if you aren't in a union working for them- you're getting royally screwed. It's very sad to see other people getting paid way less to do the same work, and often more work than a union employee.

@Quintanaroo2117 Ай бұрын

He's such a leader and well spoken. All the Power to the UAW in expanding in the south!

@nicolasm400 26 күн бұрын

Unions are at their strongest when they fight for bread AND roses. It's the vision and promise of a more democratic workplace that really inspires people in the end..

@shoveI Ай бұрын

Because in 1985 an hour of bare minimum wage work would buy five gallons of gasoline and today that's more than 20 dollars. Because in 1985 starting wages for warehouse labor and roustabouts (two hands, sober and on time = you're hired!) were the inflation adjusted equivalent of $65k/yr. Because in 1985 nationwide average rent was the inflation adjusted equivalent of $1000/mo.

@shoveI Ай бұрын

Reference for wages: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1988-89 Edition : Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, No. 2300

@johngroves9828 Ай бұрын

I have a lot of respect for Shawn Fain and the persistence he demonstrates on behalf of working men & women.

@gardenboots7464 Ай бұрын

This is SO VERRRY encouraging. A living wage and mutual respect are ESSENTIAL. Proud of your work. Thank you! Cheering you on!!!

@darrellbaker6783 29 күн бұрын

Thank you for helping the worker

@kaseywahl Ай бұрын

We need unions because we see clearly that corporations can't be trusted to do the right thing without them. People deserve to live with dignity. That means getting paid proportionate to their labor. That's never been a reality in this country, but it was much closer to a reality 30, 40, or 50 years ago.

@dmike3507 Ай бұрын

This man is a national treasure. Hopefully his influence spreads throughout the south and all the major factories get unionized.

@BobHaijerJr Ай бұрын

Unfortunately companies will shut down their factories and move them abroad to Mexico like they did with China the last time. It’s essential there be a workers party in the US to prevent such things from happening and help enforce unions as well as prevent actions that hurt unionize like right to work in the south or union busting. Starbucks has an insane record of union busting over 1000 shops closed and no accountability as of yet.

@skellener Ай бұрын

Shawn Fain for POTUS !! ✊

@user-oj7uc8tw9r Ай бұрын

This man is one of the greatest Americans currently alive. He turned a largely dead and corrupt organization into something incredible. I would elect him for US president immediately, along with Lina Khan Its funny how the best leaders are often the people least noticed or have the least desire for power.

@saadcringe Ай бұрын

YOOO HE GOT AN IBEW DENIM JACKET THATS MY UNION LETS GOOOO

@periculumesse1525 Ай бұрын

Shawn Fain is amazing!

@monsieurdorgat6864 Ай бұрын

Shawn is a brilliant organizer for Labor. Cheers and solidarity to the workers - ALL workers! This interview gave me shivers!

@DrustZapat Ай бұрын

Shawn Fain is a revolutionary, honestly. He represents a huge paradigm shift.

@red_skeleton Ай бұрын

Fain for president🎉

@loishauger7313 Ай бұрын

He's too pure of a person to go to Washington

@dancarlton7973 Ай бұрын

Him, a big labor Democrat? No.

@MMuraseofSandvich Ай бұрын

If he's up for it, he can make a great deal of change in Washington. If we want Washington to change, we have to send people who actually represent us and hold them accountable. The GOP has given up on representation, so it falls on the Democrats, and even though most of them are still pro-business, that's the (new) old guard who survived the loss of the Blue Dogs and the Tea Party astroturfed purges. I think there are plenty of opportunities to send people who are more aligned with AOC and Sanders, and even if they end up being "moderate", it's still better than the fascists in the GOP having control.

@patriot9487 Ай бұрын

@@dancarlton7973 "big labor" lmao

@potterinhe11 Ай бұрын

Unionization en mas is truly a major first step in rebuilding our economic and governmental systems.

@cutback443 Ай бұрын

This guy seems genuine and honest.. hopefully he stays that way 🤞🏽

@thecountryboymack Ай бұрын

Unions are the major groups consistently producing good news, everything else is negative for the majority

@shannonbarrett4761 Ай бұрын

I LOVE Shawn Fain! He’s the union leader we need right now!

@jamesefigueroa4468 Ай бұрын

Kudos to UAW! They are finally back to being a true labor movement, not a business.

@YourCapybaraAmigo_17yrsago Ай бұрын

Workers in every industry are responsible for a good 80 to 90% of the profits. Pretty sure that means we're entitled to those profits and appropriate working conditions and benefits.

@skibum4cy Ай бұрын

Love Fain's story, connection w/the working class, humility, & absolute desire to not just stop at 'The Big Three,' but build on that huge win by mobilizing workers in industries across the spectrum!

@Ryan-Fkrepublicnz Ай бұрын

If you ever wonder why Sweden has 2 YEARS OF PAID FAMILY LEAVE FOR BOTH PARENTS when they have a baby? 98% of Swedish people are in UNIONS

@jamiemcintosh3030 Ай бұрын

Sweden is a Capitalist country who's companies steal wealth from Africa, Asia, South TurtleIsland, and Oceania.

@07JaK92 Ай бұрын

This is an incredible interview. Great to hear a genuine person speak genuinely and represent his faith among others with dignity. Congrats to everyone.

@tracyleighbasham Ай бұрын

#SOLIDARITY ✊️❤️✊️❤️

@morganboutwell8231 Ай бұрын

A Leader! Power to the people

@sirsuse Ай бұрын

Shawn Fain is the man! Thank you for your hard work.

@Jupiterfunk Ай бұрын

This man is truly an inspiration and has nothing but the needs of the people on his mind. Deep respect for him and his beliefs.

@that_heretic Ай бұрын

At the end of the day we're the ones that make the world go round. If we can act with solidarity and patience, the world is our oyster. But only together.

@brianp6637 Ай бұрын

Shawn Fain is the best!!

@YourCapybaraAmigo_17yrsago Ай бұрын

I love how workers rights and Labor rights is still a battle we're having a fight in the 21st century. It's time for people and the workforce to get the laws on their side for a change.

@saininj Ай бұрын

LET'S GO!

@FJB2020 Ай бұрын

Brandon

@crystalparker100 Ай бұрын

Thank you, Shawn Fain.

@LiveInLove33 Ай бұрын

Time to organize. We have momentum!

@DiamondFlame45 Ай бұрын

I love Shawn Fain! I am a white collar corporate worker but at the end of the day, we are all part of the working class!

@sevens3 Ай бұрын

When the union’s inspiration through the workers’ blood shall run, There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun; Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one, But the union makes us strong.

@thatwildginger5423 Ай бұрын

Glory, glory hallelujah!

@RamenNoodle1985 Ай бұрын

This was a phenomenal interview! Thanks John! You make the best pro worker videos!

@caroletrapp3226 Ай бұрын

Amazing man. I’m not a union member because I’m retired and I was working in a field that didn’t have a union, but I would have love to be represented by somebody that thinks the way I do.

@gettrue Ай бұрын

Love, love, love this guy

@MultiFastie Ай бұрын

Keep going, Shawn and UAW!

@ElizabethBlakley-zq4pw Ай бұрын

I know the host has done his share to fight the good fight! God bless!

@Leftistattheparty Ай бұрын

Solidarity FOREVER

@user-db5jw1tj4p Ай бұрын

11/10 interview! So glad you could get him on

@jessicacrumpton7093 Ай бұрын

Please let this man run for President. It’s time for a new party!

@tomh5094 Ай бұрын

America's Mick Lynch. Well done folks, keep it up.

@ElizabethBlakley-zq4pw Ай бұрын

I love shawl Fain! God bless!

@bargdaffy1535 Ай бұрын

When Unions have Strong Honest Leaders with Integrity, they always win.

@martyb3783 Ай бұрын

Unfortunately, there has not been an honest union leader in the last 75 years.

@fmcg5364 Ай бұрын

This was really good. Shawn Fain is inspiring as is the work you at a "More Perfect Union" do. Thank you

@gaberilbaer15you63 24 күн бұрын

Good job shawn for the unions

@bulldogblvd Ай бұрын

I didn’t think I could like this guy more than I already did. Echoes things that I believe and say every day, for instance, “we are all humans”.

@ninja1antelope 25 күн бұрын

Fain for president!

@crypticmystic3489 Ай бұрын

Love this guy ❤

@jessicamorrell4713 Ай бұрын

I thank God that Unions are BACK! My son in law just became a union member at DHL .❤

@michaelfoubister4339 Ай бұрын

101 For The People !!!!!!!

@andreadaerice Ай бұрын

Shawn Fain is a freaking hero! He has real integrity and intelligence. Huge Congratulations to Mr. Fain and all the workers at VW!

@wesleymahan5903 Ай бұрын

I work at Volkswagen. The local Chattanooga born and bred management had been running over us since 2019.

@khonsulunaris9513 Ай бұрын

Go Unions! Excellent leadership, Mr. Fain

@dansamarco1610 Ай бұрын

Shawn Fain, my dearest president. What a fucking CHAD

@SweetsandCakeos Ай бұрын

Beautifully said ❤

@Derek.Mitchell Ай бұрын

That’s my president!

@jessthnthree Ай бұрын

I was talking to my partner about this and why it's a good reason to be optimistic. We are seeing that the workers are sick of it and willing to fight for what they deserve. Let's gooooooo

@jessthnthree Ай бұрын

Shawn is a lovely and well educated human as well. I'm glad that the UAW have someone who appears to actually stand up for workers.

@CarlosGarcia56590 Ай бұрын

*Thank you Angela Christine Derle for $60,000👍🏻. So many opportunity to make money here on KZfaq but most people don’t know. Thank you for continuing updates I'm favoured, $60,000 every two weeks ! I can now give back to the locals in my community and also support God's work and the church. God bless America*

@BillySampson681 Ай бұрын

Hello how do you make such monthly ?? I'm a born Christian and sometimes I feel so down 🤦 of myself because of low finance but I still believe in God.

@CarlosGarcia56590 Ай бұрын

Thanks to my co-worker (Alex) who suggested Ms Angela Christine Derle.

@CarlosGarcia56590 Ай бұрын

After I raised up to 325k trading with her l bought a new House and a car here in the states 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 E also paid for my son's surgery (Andy). Glory to God.shalom.

@StaffSpecial Ай бұрын

Wow that's nice She makes you that much!! please is there a way to reach her services, I work 3 jobs and trying to pay off my debts for a while now!! Please help me.

@CarlosGarcia56590 Ай бұрын

Sure! She engages on what's Apk using the digit

@FirstThief Ай бұрын

So refreshing

@michaeld4861 Ай бұрын

Glad unions are electing good people and making some progress again. Cheers to the dominoes falling!

@cleonanderson1722 Ай бұрын

One of the most important things is employees understanding their relationship to their employer as an adversarial one rather than one of "family". I've spent the last 20 years of my life in every job I've had surrounded by coworkers that just assume it must be the case that management and the bosses truly care about them as individuals. I always try my best to disabuse coworkers of the notion that someone who pays them wages or whose job it is to literally control and manage them could ever be in relationship with them in any way akin to their mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters. Sadly, only after unbelievable and repeated abuse and exploitation do many people even begin to question that corporatist framing of their workplace relationship, if they ever question at all. I hope that working people will once again have a general de facto understanding of classes and which side they are on, even as youngsters going into the workforce for the first time. This is a very necessary step in the right direction for actually having the ability to take back control of our lives and change this world for the better.

@dia9491 Ай бұрын

Mr Fain, I appreciate you so much. You seem like a no nonsense type leader who understands workers. Thank you for all you do.

@kevinmorris5059 Ай бұрын

UNION STRONG

@Into_The_Mystery_13 Ай бұрын

We are listing to a true modern American hero

@rfora540 Ай бұрын

I Love that man!

@joshieecs Ай бұрын

he's more than a hero, he's a union man

@Charlotte_Martel 28 күн бұрын

Oh, Miles.

@devinmcmanus Ай бұрын

Can we nominate Shawn Fain for Time Magazine's 2025 person of the year?

@DavidSerpaforCongress Ай бұрын

Excellent interview!

@joedafrog 11 күн бұрын

Go get 'em Shawn

@thrashmetaldad Ай бұрын

SHAWN FAIN 2024!!!!

@QuattroSG Ай бұрын

Because companies have been posting record profits for years while giving their workers less not more and demanding they work harder longer hours, it's a real simple question to answer.