I haven't yet discovered anyone who's made a sensible comparison of the United Autoworkers union strike against American Axle & Manufacturing earlier this year, though something makes me think the incorrigible, poor-poor-me tone that the union's leadership is striking is pretty consistent with their position in that impasse. Now, though, the union apparently has a lot more powerful people interested in their side of the argument than they did in the spring. And, politicians have different interests to fight for than the owners or managers trying to save or strengthen a business.

If that's correct, it may be a more successful tactic for the UAW this time than it was in their face-off with AAM. Whether or not they're right will remain a matter of opinion.