Biden's message to striking auto workers: 'You deserve a significant raise'

Van Buren Township — President Joe Biden told striking United Auto Workers members outside of a General Motors Co. parts distribution center on Tuesday that "you deserve a significant raise" as he became the first chief executive in more than 100 years to visit a picket line while in office.

Biden, asked whether the UAW should get the 40% raises the union initially had demanded over four years, said: "Yes, I think they should be able to bargain for that," according to a White House transcript.

Biden's remarks to union members were brief on the 12th day of the Detroit-based union's first simultaneous strike against all three Detroit automakers. The president spoke to striking workers at GM's Willow Run Redistribution Center, one of 38 parts distribution facilities owned by GM and Stellantis NV that the UAW began striking on Friday as the union escalated the work stoppage in a push for higher wages, pensions for all workers and the elimination of a two-tier pay scale.

"You made a lot of sacrifices. You gave up a lot when the companies were in trouble. Now, they're doing incredibly well. And guess what? You should be doing incredibly well, too," Biden said to applause from the picketers. "You deserve a significant raise you need and other benefits. Let's get back what we lost, OK? ... It's time for them to step up for us."

The Democratic president later added: "Wall Street didn't build the country. The middle class built the country, and unions built the middle class. That's a fact. Let's keep it going."

Biden's visit marked the first time in at least a century that a sitting president has visited a labor union's picket line, according to the White House. UAW President Shawn Fain joined Biden at the picket line.

“The CEOs think the future belongs to them,” Fain said. ”Today belongs to the autoworkers in the working class.”

“Thank you, Mr. President, for coming. We know the president will do right by the working class," the UAW president added.

After Fain spoke, Biden walked into the crowd to shake hands, bump fists and pose for selfie pictures with some of the workers before his entourage departed and headed back to Detroit Metro Airport.

Biden's visit came one day before the man he defeated in 2020 is set to stump for autoworker votes in Michigan.

Former President Donald Trump is set to make an address Wednesday at an auto supplier in Macomb County. The trips by the likely 2024 presidential nominees, according to experts, underscore the important role manufacturing workers play in elections and the economy and the significance of issues such as worker wages, corporate profits and the move to electric vehicles.

Fain was at Detroit Metro Airport to greet the president, along with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor; Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit; and Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit.

'Our cause is just'

After greeting Biden upon his arrival in Michigan, Tlaib said a worker on strike at Stellantis’ Mopar headquarters and parts distribution center in Center Line told her Monday that the union needs the president’s support.

“The most important thing is that this was centered on the workers and their stories and challenges,” said Tlaib, noting workers are “stuck in this tier system that is unfair and leaving folks struggling every day, and they’re living paycheck to paycheck.”

Given Biden’s visit to the site near Willow Run, Tlaib noted when it comes to legislation like the Clean Air and Clean Water acts and laws that expanded health care access, the labor movement has been a major mover in those fights.

“Workers historically in our country have continued to save us,” she said. “Workers’ justice and movements you see the UAW in and more have been instrumental in policies that impact all of our families.”

Biden's visit was the first time that UAW Local 900 members Kim McCartha and Claude McCubbin had met a president. Both work at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, where workers have been on strike since Sept. 15, and were at the picket line at Willow Run for the visit; McCartha got to fist-bump Biden. Both were impressed by the president's remarks and the fact that he took the time to visit.  

“I thought it was good. I thought it was appropriate. I thought it was needed. At a time like this, it was historic of him," said McCartha, clad in all-red in solidarity with her fellow members. 

She and McCubbin felt it said a lot that Biden became the first president in more than a century to visit a picket line. 

“Our cause is just," McCubbin said. "He knows it’s more than just the union that’s going to benefit from this movement."

"He said the facts," McCartha said of Biden's remarks. "We gave up so much in 2008. ... What more can he say, but it’s time to get back; it’s time for them to compensate us now?”

She was referring to changes made at General Motors and Chrysler following their bankruptcies in 2009, when Biden was vice president under President Barack Obama, as well as adjustments made in collective bargaining agreements at the two automakers and Ford Motor Co. in the following years, including lower-paid beginning worker wages and the elimination of the jobs bank that paid laid-off workers for being unemployed. The automakers have argued the changes made them more competitive with non-union and other industry rivals and helped to ensure their recovery.

More:UAW strike expansion has union members worried about their finances

For McCartha and McCubbin, both are especially interested in seeing the end of tiered wage and benefit systems at the automakers. 

"Ending tiers is huge. I’m a legacy (worker)," McCubbin said. "It’s a mistake that we made. And I feel bad about it. We’ve got to get rid of the tiers.”

Ahead of the president's arrival, Paul Dunford was on the picket line in Wayne representing the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. 

Michigan Assembly Plant is the only Ford site on strike following substantial progress made with the Blue Oval last week on job security measures, the return of a cost-of-living adjustment and other compensation disparity issues. Conversations with Ford were "very active" over the weekend and on Monday, according to a UAW source, though there's still work to do on a number of items.

“I think that they’re just trying to get a fair contract,” Dunford said of the UAW’s contract fight. “Their fight for a fair contract is mainly to be able to afford the product they build.”

Dunford said he tries to vote for candidates who are pro-labor and is a supporter of Biden. 

“I think he’s the most pro-labor president in my lifetime," Dunford said. "We vote for labor-friendly politicians as much as possible. At this time right now especially, it seems to be that the Democrats are doing more for working families than the other party."

On Friday, the union escalated its action against GM and Stellantis. In addition to striking Stellantis' Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator plant in Toledo, Ohio, and GM's Wentzville midsize pickup truck and full-size commercial van plant outside St. Louis, the union had workers on Friday walk out of the companies' 38 parts distribution centers in 20 states. In total, approximately 18,300 workers are on strike at all three companies.

In its first week alone prior to the expansion, the strike was estimated to represent an economic loss of more than $1.6 billion from lost wages, production and other impacts concentrated in Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana and Alabama from the walkouts and layoffs at suppliers and feeder plants, according to estimates from East Lansing-based consulting firm Anderson Economic Group LLC, which has done business for GM and Ford. The longer the strike goes, though, the farther the impact would be felt.

More:The UAW strike expansion could soon impact consumers. Here's how

Automakers weigh in

Fain extended an invitation to the president on Friday after being critical of White House involvement in the negotiations with the companies, emphasizing it's the union that is doing the bargaining.

"Our message to anyone running for public office is that we're going to make endorsements with people that are there for us, and that's shown through your actions, not through words," Fain said Friday on a picket line in Center Line. "Our invitation to anyone today, including the White House, to come and join our workers on the picket line, that's an open invitation for anybody. That's where you see support."

He added: "We're going to bargain our agreement. This agreement is going to be bargained by the negotiators, by the vice presidents and by our team."

The union has pointedly refrained from endorsing Biden for reelection, and Fain addressed that Tuesday as well. “We’ll see how things proceed," he told reporters. "That’s up not just to me; it’s up to our leadership and our membership, and we have our process we follow. We’ll do that when it’s time.”

Fain also discussed the status of contract talks with Ford, the lone Detroit Three automaker to be spared from last week's strike expansion.

"We've made good progress, but that could change overnight. I thought seven weeks ago, as we talked for probably five weeks, we made a lot of really good progress," he said. "And 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.”

In a Ford statement provided by spokesperson Jess Enoch, the Dearborn automaker conveyed a commitment to reaching an agreement with the union.

“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 statement 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.”

On the talks with GM and Stellantis, Fain said, "It’s going slow. ... But at the end of the day, they’re gonna have to get there.”

In a GM statement sent by spokesperson Patrick Morrissey, the Detroit automaker said its "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" after presenting "five, record economic proposals" addressing wage increases and job security.

"We value our workforce," the statement said, "and understand the impact a strike has on our employees, communities and the economy — nobody wins."

Likewise, Stellantis, in a statement provided by spokesperson Jodi Tinson, said the company "presented a record offer" with a 21.4% compounded wage increase, $1 billion in retirement benefits and inflation protection and job security measures.

"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," the statement read. "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."

Parties exchange rhetorical blows

Biden's visit will be followed by a scheduled 8 p.m. Wednesday speech by Trump from Drake Enterprises Inc. in Clinton Township during the GOP's second presidential primary debate. Drake makes parts for heavy-truck, agriculture and automotive applications. Customers include GM, Ford and Stellantis, according to its website, though its workers aren't represented by the UAW.

Leaders of both political parties slammed the other for the Michigan visits this week. The Republican National Committee released a statement contending that Americans are "struggling as a result of failed liberal policies."

"This is nothing more than a photo op, and shame on Biden for attempting to gaslight Michigan families who are footing the bill for his green energy campaign," RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement Tuesday, adding that "Biden’s war on the American energy industry and auto manufacturers got us here."

Democratic California U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi said on a Monday press call that Trump "gave unions the con," failing to deliver to workers what he promised.

"When we're talking about who shows up where it's a question of who put up and who got the job done for the workers," said Pelosi, the former House speaker. "The former president showing up in Michigan is almost a joke, except it's not funny in terms of what he promised and where he did not deliver."

Fain sounded a similar note in comments about Trump to reporters Tuesday: “The proof’s in the body of work. Go back to the economic recession, when he was quoted blaming the UAW for what was wrong with the auto companies. I go back to 2015 when he was running the first time and he was talking about doing a rotation and getting rid of our jobs, moving them somewhere else where they pay less money. … I find it odd he’s gonna go to a non-union business to talk to union workers. I don’t think he gets it.”

bnoble@detroitnews.com

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jgrzelewski@detroitnews.com

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