Fain Under Fire, Silverado Goes The Distance, Gen Z Job Struggles

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Episode #1114: Shawn Fain’s own union members want him out. Chevy’s Silverado EV clocks an unbelievable 1,059 miles on a charge, and as AI reshapes white-collar work, Gen Z is finding job security in scrubs, not suits.

Show Notes with links:

• Shawn Fain, the fiery UAW president who led the landmark 2023 strike against the Detroit 3, is now facing a revolt from within his own ranks. Several union locals have voted to launch removal proceedings, citing layoffs, retaliation, and alleged financial mismanagement.
  • Workers at Stellantis and GM plants joined four other UAW locals in voting to oust Fain, meeting the threshold for a federal monitor to review the allegations.
  • At issue are thousands of Stellantis layoffs since the 2023 contract, said to result from pressure to raise wages.
  • Critics also say Fain retaliated against board members who resisted approving spending.
  • Support for Fain remains strong among graduate student workers, but dissent is growing in Detroit-area factories.
  • “I supported Shawn, but his spending is out of control and he’s retaliatory,” said David Pillsbury, a GM worker behind the petition.

• Chevrolet has set a new benchmark for EV range, pushing a 2026 Silverado EV Work Truck to an eye-popping 1,059 miles on a single charge. The test, though far from real-world conditions, highlights just how much efficiency can be squeezed out of today’s EV technology.
  • 40 drivers took 1 hour turns and averaged just 20–25 mph, taking seven days to complete the run.
  • Tricks included removing the spare tire, overinflating tires, adding a tonneau cover, and shutting off climate control.
  • The Silverado EV WT is EPA-rated for 493 miles, but the hypermiling allowed the 205-kWh battery to return 4.9 miles per kWh—beating Lucid’s 749-mile record.
  • “Getting this kind of range doesn’t happen by accident,” said Kurt Kelty, GM VP of battery and propulsion.

• With tech and business roles slowing under AI pressure, young men are struggling to find footing, while women dominate in growing fields like nursing.
  • Gen Z men see higher unemployment as AI disrupts entry-level business and tech roles.
  • Healthcare remains one of the few industries adding jobs in 2025.
  • Nearly 90% of nursing roles are held by women, offering steady opportunities.
  • Education and hospitality — also female-led sectors — are also adding jobs.
  • Elise Gould, a senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute, said, "It could be tougher for men who are looking for jobs where there's just not a whole lot of hiring right now."

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