And if they're going to leave labor out of the equation, then it's going to be hard for us to endorse any candidate." UAW President Fain insists he's not opposed to a green-economy, but, "if we're going to do things for these companies to help this transition, labor can't be left out of the equation. Workers at plants that build electric batteries on average make far less than their counterparts in traditional represented factories. The problem the UAW, is that it sees it's members at risk of being left behind. There've been tax breaks for consumers to purchase electric vehicles. The federal government has also provided billions in tax incentives and other means to encourage and help manufacturers make that shift. The Biden administration is fully behind promoting the transition from the internal combustion engine to electric vehicles. Union members were one of the keys to Biden's success in defeating incumbent President Donald Trump in 2020.īut this year, the UAW says it still needs to see more from Biden before giving him its backing. He often reminds audiences during speeches - related to labor issues or not - that workers have the right to organize and that unions built the middle-class.ĪP Autoworkers Jalen Patterson, left, and David McHenry fill out a pledge in support of the UAW outside the General Motors Factory Zero plant in Hamtramck, Mich., on July 12. In politics, that new tougher line has come in the form of a decision not to join other major labor organizations in giving President Biden an early endorsement in next year's election.īiden has repeatedly called himself the "most pro-union president" in history. That's the contract talks part of the equation. And if they don't, we're going to have to do all we have to do."Įlectric vehicles and a decision to delay endorsing Biden "If they give our members their equal share, their fair share, we're going to be fine. "Whether we strike or not, it's up to the corporations," Fain explained. And in a pre-talks Facebook Live message to his membership, he was also unafraid to talk about the real possibility of a strike - even though bargaining had yet to begin. That photo-op has become a time-honored tradition in the Motor City, but Fain said no thanks. In the days before negotiations on a new contract for some 150-thousand union members at General Motors, Ford and Stellantis got underway, Fain announced that the usual ceremonial handshake across the table featuring the union president and his corporate counterpart would be scrapped. He's already making good on that promise.
Shawn Fain was elected to lead the union this past spring, signaling at the time that he was ready to shake things up. With a newly elected union president and a new round of contract negotiations just underway, the United Auto Workers union is sending a message that the status quo isn't acceptable - either at the bargaining table or in politics.
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