Biden visits UAW picket line at GM operation in historic first for a U.S. president

Joe Biden on Tuesday became the first sitting U.S. president in modern history to join a picket line, standing with striking workers at a General Motors parts depot in an extraordinary show of support for the UAW on the 12th day of its strike against the Detroit 3.

Biden, who has billed himself as the most pro-union president ever, spoke to workers via megaphone, saying the automakers have been doing incredibly well and that “you should be doing incredibly well, too.”

“You deserve what you’ve earned, and you’ve earned a hell of a lot more than what you’re getting paid now,” Biden said, wearing a black hat with the UAW logo. 

UAW President Shawn Fain, also speaking to workers, billed the union’s fight as a war against corporate greed.

“We have the power,” Fain said. “The world is of our making. The economy is of our making. This industry is of our making. … When we withhold our labor, we can unmake it.”

Fain, who has withheld the union’s endorsement of Biden’s reelection bid, said he appreciated the president’s support.

“We know the president will do right by the working class,” Fain said. “We’re going to take care of this business.”

Following his remarks, Biden greeted and embraced a group of striking workers at GM’s Willow Run Redistribution Center. When asked whether workers deserved a 40 percent raise, which the union first proposed in early August, Biden said, “Yes. I think they should be able to bargain for that.”

The president has previously echoed Fain’s slogan that record automaker profits should equal record deals.

Fain invited Biden to the picket line last week, when he expanded the strike against GM and Stellantis. Ford was spared from additional walkouts after progress was reported at the bargaining table. 

Responding to a shouted question about what it would take to get the UAW to endorse him shortly after he landed in Michigan, Biden replied: “I’m not worried about that.”

Fain also has kept the White House at arm's length during the contract negotiations. He was unenthusiastic about Biden's previous plan to send aides to Detroit to intervene, a plan that was later abandoned.

A White House spokesperson said Biden did not have any meetings scheduled with auto executives while in Michigan.

Biden was greeted at Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus, Mich., by fellow Democrats including Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell, Rashida Tlaib and Shri Thanedar, as well as Fain. Fain rode in the presidential limo with Biden to the picket line.

A source familiar with the visit said Fain and Biden, while in the limo, discussed UAW members’ contract demands as well as the need for a “just transition” to electric vehicles.

Fain, speaking later Tuesday on MSNBC, said he was pleased with Biden’s visit.
 
“It’s a great testament to see him come here,” Fain said. “I think his comments were very well received.”

Biden also visited a UAW picket line in 2019, when he was running for president and the union was on strike for 40 days against GM.

Stellantis, in a statement, said it had already matched Biden's call for a record contract.

"Here are the facts: 21.4% compounded wage increase, $1 billion in retirement security benefits, inflation protection measures, job security and more," the company said Monday in a statement. "Unlike the non-unionized transplants and EV startups who comprise the majority of the U.S. market, Stellantis relies on the collaboration between management and labor to ensure that our company remains competitive, and, therefore, sustainable. That is a position we have proudly embraced.

"But it also requires a balanced agreement that fairly rewards our workforce for their contribution to our success, without significantly disadvantaging Stellantis against our non-union competitors. We stand ready to sign a record contract that positions our company to continue providing good jobs here at home and be the winner as the U.S. transitions to an electrified future."

Ford, in its own statement Monday evening, insinuated that it did not want outside help at the bargaining table.

"Ford and the UAW are going to be the ones to solve this by finding creative solutions to tough issues together at the bargaining table," the company said. "We have a shared interest in the long-term viability of the domestic auto industry, the industrial Midwest and good-paying manufacturing jobs in the U.S. That's what's at stake, so we are going to stay focused on reaching a deal that is fair to our employees and enables us to invest and grow."

GM said in a statement Tuesday that it remained focused on negotiations.

“Our focus is not on politics but continues to be on bargaining in good faith with the UAW leadership to reach an agreement as quickly as possible that rewards our workforce and allows GM to succeed and thrive into the future,” the company said. “We have presented five, record economic proposals that address the areas our team members have said matter most, including wage increases and job security. We value our workforce and understand the impact a strike has on our employees, communities and the economy – nobody wins.”

A small group of workers at the Mopar Parts Distribution Center in Romulus got a chance to see Air Force One’s descent into the nearby airport.

The picketers had a grill going and brought plenty of snacks to get them through the day.

Scott Sooter, who has worked at the Romulus facility for a year and a half, transferred to the Mopar site when his shift was cut at the now-idled Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois.

Sooter said he was happy to see Biden and former President Donald Trump, who is expected to visit a nonunion shop in Macomb County on Wednesday evening, bring even more attention to the strike.

He was thankful that Biden made the trip because it shows the union has his attention.

“I really appreciate the fact the government, the people who we vote for and put in power, are actually thinking about us. It's nice,” Sooter said. “You think about them all the time. Every decision they make impacts your life in some way, big or small.”

Even if the political rivals throw barbs at each other, Sooter is just pleased that the UAW’s fight is front and center on the national stage.

“Trump's going to say Biden's being cynical, Biden's going to say Trump's being cynical, but as long as they’re both thinking of us, they can call each other whatever names they want,” Sooter said. “The only thing important is that this is about the American citizen and American worker [and] making sure that they're being respected and represented.”

Carolyn Nippa, who works at the Willow Run Redistribution Center, shook Biden’s hand during the visit and thanked him for his support.

She said Biden smiled and nodded.

Nippa, who has worked at Willow Run for about 15 years, said it was exciting for the president to make a stop at her facility. This is the third strike she’s been a part of, but she said this one has a different feel because there is “a lot more solidarity.”

She said Fain has brought a lot of transparency to the negotiations.

“I think our president is letting our voice be heard more,” Nippa said. “He’s out there communicating with us. He's doing his Facebook Live. Everything's not done behind closed doors anymore.”

Willow Run worker Kristy Zometsky was able to shake Biden’s hand as well; she didn’t think she’d get that close to him.
 
Zometsky said the middle class was built on auto jobs.
 
“Us getting a raise and getting what we deserve out of this contract is actually going to help the middle class,” Zometsky said. “It would be great to be able to afford the vehicles that we actually supply the parts for. … Even with EVs right now, we can't afford to buy one.”

Trump was expected to come to Michigan on Wednesday for an event at Drake Enterprises, which is a nonunion automotive supplier.

Fain, speaking on CNN, blasted the move.

“I find it a pathetic irony that the former president is going to hold a rally for union members at a nonunion business,” Fain said.

Fain said Trump’s track record “speaks for itself” in its lack of support for the UAW.

“The ultimate show of how much he cares for our workers was in 2019, when he was the president of the United States,” Fain said. “Where was he then? Our workers at GM were on strike for two months. I didn’t see him hold a rally, I didn’t see him stand up on the picket line, and I sure as hell didn’t hear him comment about it. He was missing in action.”

Fain was asked whether he would meet with Trump. He said he saw no point.

“I don’t think the man has any bit of care about what our workers stand for or what the working class stands for,” Fain said. “He serves the billionaire class, and that’s what’s wrong with this country.”