Amplify: President Biden’s Historic Leadership for Autoworkers
In September, President Biden became the first sitting president in U.S. history to walk a picket line, joining United Auto Workers in Michigan to demand a fair contract for their workers.
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said, “President Biden is demonstrating once again that he is the most pro-union president in history. Working people know he has our backs every day and that he understands that UAW members’ fight for a fair contract is deeply connected to the struggle over the soul of our country.”
A month later, UAW secured a tentative agreement with General Motors, and on November 20th, they ratified an historic agreement with the Big 3 automakers. Republicans talk about blue collar workers. President Biden delivered for them.
President Biden said, “These historic contracts reward the autoworkers who have sacrificed so much with record raises, more paid leave, greater retirement security, and more rights and respect at work.”
Why is it important?
Autoworkers are concentrated in critical battleground states in the midwest, states with historic roots in the labor movement. They need to know that President Biden not only stands with workers but is willing to join the picket line to fight for them.
Voters overwhelmingly supported the UAW strikes (62%), according to a poll by Data for Progress. This includes 79% of Democrats, 59% of Independents, and 48% of Republicans. Only 29% of voters opposed the strikes.
Former President Trump wants union workers to think he has their back (Associated Press: Trump says he always had autoworkers’ backs. Union leaders say his first-term record shows otherwise), but UAW leadership knows the truth. “Look at his record with the labor relations board,” said Dave Green, the UAW regional director for Ohio and Indiana. “He did nothing to support organized labor except lip service.”
Amplify President Biden’s leadership for workers on Social Media:
