Labor Pains

For the first time in history, the United Auto Workers is on strike with all three of the Detroit 3 automakers – Ford, General Motors and Stellantis –  at the same time, capping off a summer of hot labor.  

Some key insights from the union negotiations:

• The good old days of negotiating with unions in private are over. Now, companies must prepare for public battle across social media and in the news. It’s critical to have strategies to engage all stakeholders and deploy rapid response plans to correct disinformation when your message is under fire. 

• The labor movement is now bigger than any one company or industry and there has been a resurgence of labor activism. Workers are emboldened by tight labor markets and inflation, pushing for higher wages and better benefits across several high-profile campaigns spanning industries including railroad, logistics, Hollywood and manufacturing along with efforts to unionize in new areas such as banking and video games. 

• Terms of the contract are not the only issues that are front and center. Broader macro themes are taking shape across negotiations including income inequality, the executive to employee compensation gap, the threat of AI and technological disruption, and the shift to clean energy from traditional jobs.

• All labor is politics, especially ahead of the 2024 election. Notably the UAW has so far withheld their endorsement for the next presidential race. With a strike underway, bothsides of the aisle have weighed in.  President Joe Biden expressed support for union workers while attempting to strike a balance with the auto companies, who are embracing green energy policies and leading the shift to EVs. Additionally, former President Donald Trump has been courting the union’s endorsement. 

The UN General Assembly is back, at the halfway point between when the Sustainable Development Goals were introduced in 2015 and when they are meant to be achieved in 2030—and only 15% are on track.

Meanwhile, this year’s UNGA is bigger than it has been in years. That means more leaders, more events, more traffic jams and more difficulty getting reservations at venues like restaurants and hotels. 

We talked to FGS Global’s newest partner, former U.S. Chief of Protocol Capricia Marshall, about what to expect at this year’s UNGA: 

• Climate takes center stage with the U.S. back in the Paris Agreement. From the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit taking place today in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies to Climate Week NYC, climate topics like health and finance lead the discourse. Multiple protestors decrying fossil fuel financing were arrested on Wall Street yesterday.

• Watch for boldfaced names. The Clinton Global Initiative began yesterday, and the Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers event spans today and tomorrow. Leaders from at least 145 countries are descending on Turtle Bay, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his first in-person appearance at the United Nations since Russia’s invasion. President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet on the sidelines of the conference on Wednesday, notably not in Washington. 

• There’s still time to participate. If there’s a specific event you’re interested in, countries’ New York missions are usually very responsive. Plenty of event organizers are still looking for audience members, especially through paid ticketing opportunities. 

• Pack your tennis shoes. Between motorcades, protests and street closures, the subway is your friend.  

​The return to in-person events this fall is creating a highly competitive post-pandemic landscape. Organizations thinking about hosting an event must factor in the crowded environment and competition for visibility, venues, speakers and attendees.

Take this week’s UN General Assembly. On the sidelines, dozens of events are seeking to break through and capture the attention of the built-in, high-level audience. Using one event as a hook for another is a common strategy that's become more prevalent – one that we’ll only see more of around COP28 and Davos. The result? Higher RSVP attrition rates, fewer available venues and higher costs, and less diversity in programming and speakers.

To host a successful event in this highly competitive environment, consider the following:

• Distinguish your event to attract your target audience. A unique speaker, venue and format can all be a draw. Position your event during a quieter period, and always do a landscape analysis well in advance. 

• Follow up with attendees after the event to further relationships. Begin making your after-action plan early on in planning. Don’t forget about those who couldn’t make it – they deserve a follow up too.

• The event is a stepping stone. Leverage the momentto extend the conversation.