Union leaders react to Biden’s Detroit visit in support of UAW
During the historic visit, Biden said he supported a 40% pay raise for unionized auto workers – a demand UAW President Shawn Fain has repeated numerous times throughout talks with Detroit automakers.
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain greets striking workers at a Mopar Parts Distribution Center in Center Line, Michigan.
President Joe Biden joined United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain on a picket line at General Motors parts warehouse in Belleville on Tuesday in support of striking union members.
During the historic visit, Biden said he supported a 40% pay raise for unionized auto workers – a demand Fain has repeated numerous times throughout bargaining talks with Detroit automakers.
While Fain has not yet voiced the union’s endorsement for a particular candidate in the 2024 Presidential race, he and many other UAW leaders and members are praising Biden’s visit and applaud his solidarity with the labor movement.
“I don’t think for a minute that President Biden is concerned about an endorsement from the UAW at this point,” said Sean McGarvey, president of North America’s Building Trades Unions. “I think what President Biden is really concerned about is putting worth to his words.”
McGarvey was more critical of former President Donald Trump, who will be in Clinton Township today to speak to a hand-picked group of current and former union workers.
“We interacted with him plenty of times,” McGarvey said, referring to promises made by former President Trump about adding multi-employer pension protections to various bills, which did not pan out. “He made all kinds of promises and delivered none. Zero.”
Polling has shown that Trump has solid support with about a third of union membership. Drake Enterprises, the parts manufacturer that is hosting the event on Wednesday, is a non-union shop.
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