Dwaine Frendall, a member of UAW Local 822 who works at the Ford Van Dyke (Mich.) plant was outside UAW Solidarity House protesting with his wife and three children. It was their first time ever joining a pro-life demonstration. "We don't agree with abortion," he said. "We believe it's killing. I believe the UAW is bargaining to get health care costs down. So, if you kill a baby, it's a lot cheaper on health care than having to raise one for 18 years."
Still, the UAW has not polled its members on the abortion issue any time recently.
"I think you and I could walk on an industrial plant in Ontario and Michigan, you'd find that social issues are not a great concern to majority of workers," Whitty said. "They are looking at whether their job is secure, if they have a guaranteed pension, and don't want to be forced to do co-pays. It's much a more minimalist and survivalist mentality."
While deeply religious persons might be irritated or object to the union or company embracing and endorsing things they don't like, social issues like abortion will probably not be a problem for the company or the union, Whitty noted.
"The utilization factor, the impact, of these social issues is much smaller than either liberals or conservatives imagine and the social consequences not destructive or widespread as the most alarmed evangelical might say," he said.
Declining Sales: the Big Backdrop
From a global perspective, there is a consolidation of the world auto industry going on and many observers anticipate that the 25-some major and medium auto manufacturers in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific will shrink to 10 or less within the next 15 years, Whitty said. One has to wonder where that will leave Michigan, Ontario and other traditional automotive manufacturing centers in North America.