Indiana has suffered from the UAW’s record layoffs, especially at GM’s Fort Wayne Assembly Plant. Several hundred temporary employees – who were also dues paying UAW members – at the Fort Wayne Assembly Plant were laid off following the UAW’s 2023 contract with the company. During the contract negotiations, UAW President Shawn Fain promised to “end the abuse of temps.” It looks like the only thing that ended for these temps was their employment.

The UAW’s members in Indiana who kept their jobs aren’t much happier with their representation. Last year, the UAW tried to gin up enthusiasm for (yet another) strike against automaker Stellantis. Fain even held a rally in Indiana shortly before a planned strike authorization vote. The union had to back off from this push after UAW Local 1166 – Shawn Fain’s home local – voted against authorizing the strike.