President Joe Biden has been in discussions with the head of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union in an effort to resolve the ongoing auto strike. These negotiations have been ongoing for several weeks, but as of now, no resolution has been reached.
Since their first meeting in the Oval Office on July 19, Biden and UAW President Shawn Fain have been working to build a relationship and address the concerns of the union. The UAW launched the strike against General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis with the intention of forcing political leaders to take sides.
During the strike, the White House made efforts to build trust with the UAW by showing support for the union and meeting with workers on the picket line. These efforts helped to resolve the strike and resulted in significant pay raises for workers.
However, despite Biden’s public support for union workers, there are signs that the UAW has not fully warmed to the president. The union has not yet endorsed Biden for reelection, and it is expected that a final decision on the endorsement will come after contracts with the automakers are finalized.
The relationship between Fain and Biden could be crucial to the outcome of the 2024 election, as more than 380,000 UAW members are scattered in states that have been key battlegrounds in recent presidential contests.
Biden’s economic adviser, Gene Sperling, has been in constant communication with the UAW and the automakers throughout the negotiations. Sperling has followed the principle of being in touch and helpful without intervening or mediating.
As the weeks went on, Biden and his team publicly showed more support for the union. At one point, Biden stressed to the automakers the UAW’s position that new contracts should include a built-in cost-of-living adjustment. This adjustment became part of the tentative agreement reached with GM.
The politics surrounding the strike were challenging for Biden, as he had been facing criticism for his handling of the economy. While union households have traditionally supported Democrats, the UAW has been a holdout in endorsing Biden.
Throughout the negotiations, there were moments of tension between the union and the White House. Biden’s comment about not being worried about a strike until it happens was interpreted by Fain as being misguided. Biden later clarified his remarks and called Fain directly.
Biden showed his support for the UAW by visiting a picket line in Michigan, which was a presidential first. However, Fain declined to endorse Biden despite the outreach efforts.
The White House believes that trust was built with the UAW as negotiations progressed and tentative agreements were reached with Ford and Stellantis. A deal with GM was imminent at the time of this article.
Overall, the negotiations between Biden and the UAW are ongoing, and the outcome of these discussions could have an impact on the 2024 election.
Focus keyword: auto strike
