Autoworkers Under the Gun
A Shop-Floor View of the End of the American Dream
Workers' rights are not defined by law or contract. Workers' rights are defined by struggle.
Gregg Shotwell’s Live Bait & Ammo newsletter chronicled the outrages and absurdities of corporate managers, exposed union leaders who acted in partnership” with employers, and sounded the alarm about the devastating effects of auto industry job losses and union concessions. LB&A fliers grew legs of their own, distributed by rank-and-file workers in auto plants across the United States and cited by industry analysts. This collection spans a decade of autoworker resistanceand it’s a call to action for a new generation of workers coming of age in recession-wracked America.
Gregg Shotwell’s Live Bait & Ammo newsletter chronicled the outrages and absurdities of corporate managers, exposed union leaders who acted in partnership” with employers, and sounded the alarm about the devastating effects of auto industry job losses and union concessions. LB&A fliers grew legs of their own, distributed by rank-and-file workers in auto plants across the United States and cited by industry analysts. This collection spans a decade of autoworker resistanceand it’s a call to action for a new generation of workers coming of age in recession-wracked America.
Reviews
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“No one has cut through the hypocrisy of what capitalism has done to American workers with more passion, wit, and insight than Gregg Shotwell.”
—Sam Gindin, former research director, Canadian Auto Workers
“We factory folks are so very lucky to have our own poet laureate and writer preeminent—Gregg Shotwell.”
—Elly Leary, labor educator and former autoworker, chief negotiator, and union officer
“Like a barking junkyard dog, Shotwell is there to defend the workers that the corporations and the unions have forgotten.”
—Justin Z. West, past president and bargaining chairman, UAW Local 2488, autoworker at Volvo Cars, Gothenburg, Sweden
“He speaks for a large unappreciated reservoir of intelligence, insight, and guts in the working ranks. Almost invisible, watching the situation closely, preparing for our day.”
—Larry Christensen, chassis assembler, UAW, retired
“I read your e-mails pretty regular. I know you very well. . . .You’re done, brother. Shut off the mic.”
—Stephen P. Yokich, UAW president, 1994–2002 -
No one has cut through the hypocrisy of what capitalism has done to American workers with more passion, wit, and insight than Gregg Shotwell.”
Sam Gindin, former research director, Canadian Auto Workers
We factory folks are so very lucky to have our own poet laureate and writer preeminentGregg Shotwell.”
Elly Leary, labor educator and former autoworker, chief negotiator, and union officer
Like a barking junkyard dog, Shotwell is there to defend the workers that the corporations and the unions have forgotten.”
Justin Z. West, past president and bargaining chairman, UAW Local 2488, autoworker at Volvo Cars, Gothenburg, Sweden
He speaks for a large unappreciated reservoir of intelligence, insight, and guts in the working ranks. Almost invisible, watching the situation closely, preparing for our day.”
Larry Christensen, chassis assembler, UAW, retired
I read your e-mails pretty regular. I know you very well. . . .You’re done, brother. Shut off the mic.”
Stephen P. Yokich, UAW president, 19942002