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Joe Biden became the first sitting U.S. president to join a picket line, accepting UAW chief Shawn Fain’s invitation to meet with striking union workers.
Fain handed Biden a UAW baseball hat when he greeted him at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. After meeting with national, state and local politicians, Biden and Fain traveled to General Motors’ Willow Run parts distribution center in Van Buren Township, west of Detroit.
Biden who claims to be the most pro-union president in history, met with strikers and then grabbed a bullhorn, telling the crowd, “I marched in a lot of UAW picket lines when I was a senator — since 1973 — but, I tell you what, it’s the first time I’ve ever done it as president.”
When asked by a reporter if he believes the workers should get a 40% raise, encouraged by the strikers, he said, “Yes, I think they should be able to bargain for that.”
The president, who also met with striking GM workers who went on strike four years ago, told picketers they’ve sacrificed for the good of the companies and should not only get raises but increased benefits and compensation as well. He then gave way to Fain.
“You know, this is a historic moment — the first time in our country’s history that a sitting USA president has came out and stood on the picket line,” Fain said. “Our president has chosen to stand up with workers in our fight for economic and social justice.”
Still talking
Fain told reporters discussions with Ford were ongoing, noting that after five weeks of good progress, “then overnight they went from good progress to going backwards. So it’s just hard to predict. At the end of the day, our members will get their share of economic justice. And if we have to keep turning up the pressure, that’s what we’ll do.”
Elected earlier this year in a first-ever one member, one vote scenario, Fain’s continued to break barriers. Instead of picking a target company to establish a deal that would be used to reach agreement with the other two automakers, he elected to selectively strike all three automakers.
Because of the aforementioned progress with Ford, the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker was spared when Fain expanded the strikes at GM and Stellantis to include 38 parts distribution centers. By halting work there, the fallout spreads to dealers and owners, who need parts to repair their vehicles.
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