UAW Strikes to Assuage Workers

It is my decidedly non-expert opinion that the United Auto Workers union leaders called a strike to pave the way for future concessions to General Motors. The UAW knows that they're going to have to help GM cut costs, but the union leaders don't want to look weak; the strike is just a show for the benefit of union members who wouldn't be willing to compromise if they didn't see it as their only option.