The leader of the United Auto Workers union is warning President Joe Biden not to dismiss the possibility of a strike as negotiations with Detroit automakers remain at a stalemate.
In an interview on “Morning Joe,” UAW President Shawn Fain responded to a comment made by Biden on Labor Day where he was asked about the impending UAW strike, to which he responded: “No, I’m not worried about a strike until it happens."
The contracts for over 150,000 auto workers expires on Sept. 14. Fain said the union will attempt to reach a deal with General Motors, Ford Motor Co., and Stellantis before that time, but warned "there will be action" if they cannot come to an agreement.
Preparing to Strike
"The way things are going right now, it’s looking that way. So, hopefully things can change," he said, adding, “One thing we’ve said from the outset is things are not going to be as they always have been. The companies in past negotiations always have a tendency to drag things out until the very end, and then they want to drop a bunch of stuff and just scramble. And I’ve told them from from day one that we don’t intend to do things that way.”
The UAW endorsed Biden during the 2020 presidential election, but has not since revealed who they are backing for the 2024 race. Fain said that the union stands by withholding the endorsement for the time being.
“We’ll make the decision when the time is right — when our members decide that time is right, and our leadership," he said. "It’s a process we go through. The one thing we’ve made clear is that our endorsements are going to be earned, not freely given. It’s one thing we’re doing differently, and there’s a lot of work left to be done here.”
The UAW is asking for a wage increase of 46 percent over the next four to five years in compensation for years of stagnant wages and record company profits. As assembly line workers are difficult to replace, a strike could deal a large blow to the automotive industry.
Fain said that a strike would demonstrate to Biden and the rest of congress that they must “pick a side” in regards to workers rights and unionization.
“I think our strike can reaffirm to [Biden] of where the working-class people in this country stand, and it’s time for politicians in this country to pick a side,” he said during “Last Call” with Brian Sullivan on Wednesday. “Either you stand for a billionaire class where everybody else gets left behind, or you stand for the working class, the working-class people vote.”
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