Then-presidential candidate President Joe Biden speaks against a backdrop of American-made vehicles and UAW logos as he speaks about new proposals to protect American jobs during a campaign event in Warren, Mich., Sept. 9, 2020.
Leah Millis | Reuters
DETROIT — President Joe Biden has called for a “fair deal” between the UAW and Detroit automakers to avoid “painful” factory closures amid a contentious battle for the roughly 150,000 UAW union. Contract negotiation.
Biden, hailed as “the most pro-union president ever,” said on Monday that the talks offered a “win-win opportunity” for all parties, while calling for a “fair transition to a clean energy future.” He also praised the role unions played in creating America’s middle class, a role he said these new contracts should sustain.
“When the Big Three and the UAW come together to negotiate a new deal a month before their contracts expire, I want to be clear about where I stand. I’m asking all parties to work together to reach a new deal. “A fair deal,” Biden said in a statement Released by the White House.
Biden’s announcement comes a month before the current four-year agreement between the UAW and the UAW. General Motors, Ford and star Expires September 14 at 11:59 PM ET. A few months ago, UAW President Shawn Fain said the union would hold off on supporting Biden for re-election until the union’s concerns about the auto industry’s transition to all-electric vehicles were addressed.
Biden also said the two sides should “take all possible steps to avoid painful factory closures,” which may be easier said than done, as unions pushed for big wage increases and Strandis had been indefinitely earlier this year. effectively idled an assembly plant in Illinois.
The UAW viewed Biden’s announcement as a victory because union leaders such as Fein have been calling for a “just transition” to all-electric vehicles, which threatens UAW jobs.
“At this juncture in negotiations, we thank President Biden for his support of strong contracts that secure well-paying union jobs now and pave the way for a just transition to an electric vehicle future,” Fein said. in a statement.
The manufacture of electric vehicles can reduce manual labor. There are also major concerns about how pay, benefits and organization at joint venture battery factories between automakers and battery suppliers will affect unions and their members.
GM, Ford and Strandis said in statements that they will continue to negotiate in good faith with the union to secure contracts that benefit workers and help make the companies more competitive.
“We agree that it is critical for all parties to work together to develop a fair labor contract that provides our team members with job security and supports good wages and benefits, while enabling the company to succeed domestically and globally,” GM said. compete.”
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