Doppel-Interview: „Wir werden Arbeitsplätze verlieren“
Gewerkschaftler David Green hat den Niedergang der US-Industrie miterlebt. Grünen-Fraktionschefin Katharina Dröge diskutiert mit ihm in Ohio darüber, was Deutschland daraus lernen kann.
The meeting took place in a small union conference room near Cleveland, Ohio. Katharina Dröge, co-fraction leader of the Greens, was there to get a feel for the transformation of the region ahead of a multi-day US trip. After visiting a nearby Ford factory, she met with David Green, director of the powerful UAW union for Ohio and Indiana.
Green gained national notoriety in 2019 when US President Donald Trump publicly blamed him for job losses in the region. In the 2000s, Ohioans had experienced an unprecedented decline in their industrial sector. The union's headquarters had seen better days, with worker organization levels now at a mere ten percent, a historic low. In the 2024 election, American workers had largely voted for Trump. However, Green believes that could change in the congressional elections in November.
He says, "The workers will decide in the midterm elections." Green goes on to say, "The workers will make the difference at the midterm elections and now also the farmers." Trump recently angered them by lowering import tariffs on beef right before the election.
Green says, "I think the workers will change their minds in November." He expresses concern about a potential trade war with the EU and China, saying, "I worry about the workers who have suffered enough already from the disastrous trade policies of NAFTA and USMCA." While acknowledging some positive outcomes for Stellantis and Whirlpool, he maintains that overall, the situation hasn't improved.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
