UAW President Voices Concerns Over Biden’s Reelection Prospects

United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain held a crucial meeting with the union’s executive board to address growing concerns about President Joe Biden’s chances of defeating former President Donald Trump in the upcoming November election. This gathering, which took place late on Thursday, was attended by top officials from the nearly 400,000-member union.

Concerns and Discussions –

Fain called the meeting to discuss his apprehensions and explore the union’s options moving forward. The UAW, which endorsed Biden in January, plays a vital role in his campaign, particularly in key swing states like Michigan, where the union is headquartered. Both Biden and Trump have been actively courting voters in Michigan, especially those employed by major U.S. automakers like Ford, General Motors (GM), and Stellantis.

While UAW Communications Director Jonah Furman and the Biden campaign declined to comment, sources indicate that Fain has been a strong critic of Trump. In his January endorsement of Biden, Fain stated, “Donald Trump stands against everything we stand for as a society.”

Biden’s Efforts with Labor Unions –

President Biden has been making efforts to solidify his support among labor unions. On Wednesday, he met with the executive council of the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of U.S. trade unions. Fain was present at this meeting, where Biden emphasized the importance of union support and outlined his future plans.

Biden has positioned himself as the most pro-union president in U.S. history, a stance he demonstrated by joining a union picket line during a six-week autoworkers strike last year. This strike resulted in significant wage increases for workers at Detroit’s Big-3 automakers. Fain received a mention from Biden at this year’s State of the Union address, which he attended.

Internal Union Dynamics – 

Despite the official endorsement, not all UAW members are fully aligned with Biden. In recent weeks, signs supporting Trump over Biden have appeared around several UAW facilities in Michigan. For example, the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP) in Sterling Heights, Michigan, saw signs popping up around the facility after it recently experienced layoffs of 199 employees, fueling discontent among some workers.

Biden’s EV Initiatives – 

The Biden administration has also been focusing on boosting electric vehicle (EV) production in the United States. The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced plans to award nearly $1.1 billion in grants to GM and Stellantis to modernize their facilities for EV production. Stellantis, for instance, will receive $584.8 million to convert its Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois and its Indiana Transmission Plant in Kokomo, Indiana, creating new jobs and advancing the company’s EV capabilities. Something the UAW and Stellantis are counting on to keep their current contract.

Source: Reuters