President Biden joined members of the United Auto Workers union on the picket line Tuesday in an unprecedented show of support for workers striking against Detroit’s Big Three automakers.
Mr. Biden’s appearance at a General Motors plant in suburban Detroit marked the first time a sitting president has ever walked a picket line in an ongoing strike in solidarity with workers. It is the most significant pro-union action ever taken by a president and also distinguishes Mr. Biden as a fierce opponent of automakers.
“You guys — UAW — you saved the automobile industry back in 2008 and before. You made a lot of sacrifices, gave up a lot, when the companies were in trouble. But now they are doing incredibly well and guess what — you should be doing incredibly well too,” Mr. Biden said to cheers from the crowd. “You deserve a significant raise and other benefits. Let’s get back what we lost.”
If the strike drags on and damages the economy, voters will likely take out their frustrations on Mr. Biden. The move also backs him into a corner as the strike ripples through the economy. “I’m not worried about that,” Mr. Biden told reporters Tuesday when asked about the UAW withholding the endorsement.
The three carmakers have raised their wage offers to a range of 17.5% to 20%, along with large one-time payments and more time off. But they’ve bristled at a 32-hour workweek and restoration of retirement benefits for new workers, which was cut when the automakers neared insolvency in 2007, saying it would make them less competitive with nonunion companies.
“Our focus is not on politics, but continues to be on bargaining in good faith with the UAW leadership to reach an agreement as quickly as possible that rewards our workforce and allows GM to succeed and thrive into the future,” General Motors said.
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