The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the
United Automobile Workers (
UAW), is an
American labor union that represents workers in the
United States (including
Puerto Rico) and
Canada. Founded as part of the
Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in the 1930s, the UAW grew rapidly from 1936 to the 1950s. Under the leadership of
Walter Reuther (president 1946-70) it played a major role in the liberal wing of the Democratic party, including the civil rights and anti-Communist movements. The UAW was especially known for gaining high wages and pensions for the auto workers, but it was unable to unionize auto plants built by foreign-based car-makers in the South after the 1970s, and went into a steady decline in membership increased
automation, decreased use of labor, movements of manufacturing (including reaction to
NAFTA), and increased
Globalization all were factors.