President Biden Joins Striking UAW Workers on Historic Picket Line Visit

In an unprecedented move, President Joe Biden has visited the picket line of United Auto Workers (UAW) members outside Detroit, offering his support and urging them to persevere as the strike against the nation’s three largest automakers enters its 12th day.

President Biden’s historic visit took place at a General Motors redistribution center, where he expressed solidarity with the striking workers and called for them to receive a more significant share of the profits generated by Ford Motor Co., General Motors, and Stellantis. This marks the first instance in which a sitting U.S. president has actively participated in a picket line during an ongoing labor dispute.

Addressing the crowd while wearing a black UAW hat, Biden declared, “Folks, stick with it because you deserve the significant raise you need and other benefits. Let’s get back what we lost, OK? If we can save them, then it’s about time for them to step up for us.”

UAW President Shawn Fain extended a public invitation to President Biden last Friday, coinciding with the UAW’s expansion of the strike to encompass 38 locations across 20 states. Fain personally greeted Biden upon his arrival at the Detroit airport and accompanied him in the presidential limousine to meet with striking autoworkers.

Fain expressed his gratitude, saying, “Our president chose to stand up with workers in our fight for economic and social justice. It’s a historic day, a historic moment in time.”

The President’s visit occurred on an overcast day at the Willow Run Redistribution Center, where members of UAW Local 174, donned in red shirts, chanted in unison and carried UAW signs while marching in a circle.

During his address to the striking autoworkers, President Biden emphasized the need to compensate them for the financial sacrifices they made during the 2008 auto bailout under President Barack Obama. He commended the UAW for its role in saving the automobile industry at that critical juncture.

“The truth of the matter is you guys, UAW, you saved the automobile industry back in 2008 and before. You made a lot of sacrifices and gave up a lot. And the companies were in trouble. Now they’re doing incredibly well. And you should be doing incredibly well, too,” President Biden stated.

Biden engaged with UAW workers, shaking hands and offering fist bumps before departing the scene. The UAW’s demands include 40% pay raises over four years, a shortened four-day work week, the elimination of a multi-tiered wage system, and the reinstatement of a pension plan. While Fain noted some progress in negotiations with Ford, he asserted that General Motors and Stellantis required further pressure.

Fain addressed the members while President Biden observed, emphasizing the local historical significance of the Willow Run Redistribution Center and characterizing corporate greed as the adversary in the current struggle.

The White House has refrained from directly endorsing UAW’s preferred terms, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasizing the President’s desire for the parties to negotiate a “record UAW contract.” President Biden has maintained a hands-off approach to the ongoing negotiations, even after his appearance on the picket line.

When asked about his stance on the UAW’s request for 40% raises, President Biden responded affirmatively, stating, “Yes, I think they should be able to bargain for that.” Biden, who has a longstanding relationship with organized labor, has previously declared his intent to be the “most pro-union president” in U.S. history.

Erik Loomis, a labor historian at the University of Rhode Island, characterized Biden’s picket line appearance as unprecedented, highlighting that such actions had not been taken by past presidents, including FDR, Harry Truman, or JFK.

This move by President Biden comes in response to pressure from progressive lawmakers, such as Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator John Fetterman, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who joined UAW members at striking sites in recent days.

In his address, President Biden emphasized the significance of unions in building the middle class and stressed the importance of recognizing the contributions of workers.

General Motors released a statement expressing its focus on negotiations with the UAW leadership to reach an agreement swiftly, without delving into political aspects. Similarly, Stellantis defended its contract offer while refraining from criticizing President Biden’s presence on the picket line.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, who is a frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination, is scheduled to hold a rally in Michigan on Wednesday, making an appeal to working-class voters. Trump had announced his Michigan visit prior to President Biden’s trip, and he criticized Biden’s support for electric vehicles as potentially detrimental to the U.S. auto industry.