Reassembling the UAW (Paperback)

Abe Walker

ISBN 10: 1439926417 / ISBN 13: 9781439926413

Published by Temple University Press,U.S., Philadelphia PA, 2026

About this Item

Paperback. When Volkswagens Chattanooga Assembly Plant opened in 2012, the United Auto Workers were excited by the golden opportunity to organize in the anti-union South, where their efforts had been routinely thwarted. However, it took ten years and several attempts before the UAW was successful in unionizing the plant. Reassembling the UAW explains why. Abe Walker chronicles the organizing campaign from its origin in 2014 to the unions breakthrough victory in 2024, illustrating what went wrongand what went rightalong the way. Walker provides a systematic analysis of the strategic challenges and tactical shifts, showing the patterns that persisted across three election cycles while highlighting their differences, from global-level alliances to local labor issues.Reassembling the UAW also demonstrates how rebel rank-and-file workers ousted the old-guard leadership and transformed the UAW into a militant union to achieve results. Ultimately, Walker offers valuable lessons for organizational strategy, the power of collective action, and the future of the labor movement. "This book describes the organizational changes that enabled the UAW's unionization efforts at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to overcome defeat in 2014 and 2019 and succeed in 2024. It analyzes the decentralization of organizational leadership that built increased trust, learning, and innovation among workers"-- Provided by publisher. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781439926413

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Reassembling the UAW (Paperback)
• Publisher: Temple University Press,U.S., Philadelphia PA
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1439926417
• ISBN 13: 9781439926413
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

When Volkswagen’s Chattanooga Assembly Plant opened in 2012, the United Auto Workers were excited by the golden opportunity to organize in the anti-union South, where their efforts had been routinely thwarted. However, it took ten years and several attempts before the UAW was successful in unionizing the plant. Reassembling the UAW explains why.

Abe Walker chronicles the organizing campaign from its origin in 2014 to the union’s breakthrough victory in 2024, illustrating what went wrong—and what went right—along the way. Walker provides a systematic analysis of the strategic challenges and tactical shifts, showing the patterns that persisted across three election cycles while highlighting their differences, from global-level alliances to local labor issues.

Reassembling the UAW also demonstrates how rebel rank-and-file workers ousted the old-guard leadership and transformed the UAW into a militant union to achieve results. Ultimately, Walker offers valuable lessons for organizational strategy, the power of collective action, and the future of the labor movement.

About the Author

Abe Walker is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Fayetteville State University.