Leveling the playing field

When Ford Motor Co. refused to accept seats built by temporary workers and managers at Johnson Controls Inc., Plymouth, Michigan, plant, President Stephen Yokich's campaign to rebuild the United Auto Workers (UAW) gained momentum it urgently needed. Whether it is merely a token triumph or a strategic stroke of genius remains to be seen. The current UAW ranks are 50% below peak membership of the late 1970s. After years of denial, Yokich and the UAW are attacking the root cause of the union's shrinking membership base. The UAW's goal is to create a level playing field on automotive-parts labor costs.