Click for more Trump’s ongoing Iran War consequences.
The United Auto Workers, along with six unions representing members at the largest U.S. defense contractors, are calling on members of Congress to support a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would ban defense contractors from stock buybacks and dividends. Since 2020, the big five prime defense contractors have spent twice as much on stock buybacks and dividends than capital expenditures, according to a UAW release. [NDAA from the Trump Administration: Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting, 91 Fed. Reg. 1377 (Jan. 13, 2026) – AutoCrat.]*
“The working class makes the defense industry run, but instead of investing in our national and economic security, companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Woodward, and dozens more spend taxpayer dollars on Wall Street payoffs to enrich the billionaires,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “It’s time we put an end to defense contractors paying off Wall Street while defense workers and taxpayers pay the price.”
Unions at U.S. Defense Contractors
- United Auto Workers (UAW)
- United Steelworkers (USW)
- International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE)
- Communications Workers of America (CWA)
- International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB)
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT)
- International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART)
*In a letter to members of Congress, the unions call on legislators to “stand with America’s defense workers and seize this opportunity to enshrine” the provision called Section 815 into law, following on an executive order by the Trump administration enacted in January. Section 815 would implement legislation introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) by imposing a blanket ban on Wall Street payouts to incentivize investment in the facilities and workers that make the industry run, instead of short-term stock market paydays.
[In March, Senator Warren and Josh Hawley introduced the bipartisan Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting Act, new legislation that would codify President Trump’s executive order, ensuring that America’s defense needs are prioritized over contractors’ bottom lines. “The latest round of financial reports from defense contractors shows that despite their concerns, defense contractors can afford to prioritize the warfighter and increase investments to improve outcomes and address schedule delays and cost overruns plaguing the Pentagon’s weapons systems,” wrote the senators. “Given the findings of our review, we urge your support for codifying the President’s executive order into law and ensuring that the order has lasting results, “concluded the senators. Senator Warren has had longstanding concerns over potential conflicts of interest, revolving door abuse, and national security concerns in DoD’s acquisition process. – Autocrat]
“With the industry’s center of gravity progressively shifting to investor returns, workers too have paid an enormous price,” the letter continues. “In contract negotiations and organizing campaigns with these employers, we hear time and again that there are not enough resources to provide workers with job security and fair compensation. In just the past two years, this has led to labor disputes and work stoppages at major defense contractors such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Textron, GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and more,” the letter from the unions said [Read The Full Letter Here – AutoCrat]
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Seven Unions Want Bans on Defense Contractor Stock Buybacks
Click for more Trump’s ongoing Iran War consequences.
The United Auto Workers, along with six unions representing members at the largest U.S. defense contractors, are calling on members of Congress to support a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would ban defense contractors from stock buybacks and dividends. Since 2020, the big five prime defense contractors have spent twice as much on stock buybacks and dividends than capital expenditures, according to a UAW release. [NDAA from the Trump Administration: Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting, 91 Fed. Reg. 1377 (Jan. 13, 2026) – AutoCrat.]*
“The working class makes the defense industry run, but instead of investing in our national and economic security, companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Woodward, and dozens more spend taxpayer dollars on Wall Street payoffs to enrich the billionaires,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “It’s time we put an end to defense contractors paying off Wall Street while defense workers and taxpayers pay the price.”
Unions at U.S. Defense Contractors
*In a letter to members of Congress, the unions call on legislators to “stand with America’s defense workers and seize this opportunity to enshrine” the provision called Section 815 into law, following on an executive order by the Trump administration enacted in January. Section 815 would implement legislation introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) by imposing a blanket ban on Wall Street payouts to incentivize investment in the facilities and workers that make the industry run, instead of short-term stock market paydays.
[In March, Senator Warren and Josh Hawley introduced the bipartisan Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting Act, new legislation that would codify President Trump’s executive order, ensuring that America’s defense needs are prioritized over contractors’ bottom lines. “The latest round of financial reports from defense contractors shows that despite their concerns, defense contractors can afford to prioritize the warfighter and increase investments to improve outcomes and address schedule delays and cost overruns plaguing the Pentagon’s weapons systems,” wrote the senators. “Given the findings of our review, we urge your support for codifying the President’s executive order into law and ensuring that the order has lasting results, “concluded the senators. Senator Warren has had longstanding concerns over potential conflicts of interest, revolving door abuse, and national security concerns in DoD’s acquisition process. – Autocrat]
“With the industry’s center of gravity progressively shifting to investor returns, workers too have paid an enormous price,” the letter continues. “In contract negotiations and organizing campaigns with these employers, we hear time and again that there are not enough resources to provide workers with job security and fair compensation. In just the past two years, this has led to labor disputes and work stoppages at major defense contractors such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Textron, GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and more,” the letter from the unions said [Read The Full Letter Here – AutoCrat]
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.