Nearly two weeks after the United Auto Workers strike began, President Joe Biden will travel to Detroit, Michigan, to join the labor union on the picket lines on Tuesday, one day before former president Donald Trump does.
“Tuesday, I’ll go to Michigan to join the picket line and stand in solidarity with the men and women of UAW as they fight for a fair share of the value they helped create,” Biden announced Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter. “It’s time for a win-win agreement that keeps American auto manufacturing thriving with well-paid UAW jobs.”
Earlier on Friday, UAW president Shawn Fain invited Biden to join him and union members next week as they continue striking against General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis over better pay, working hours, and concerns over electric vehicles.
UAW President Shawn Fain personally invites President Biden to join the picket line:
“We invite and encourage everyone who supports our cause to join us on the picket line … all the way up to the president of the United States.” pic.twitter.com/gZPdLO3WpZ
— The Recount (@therecount) September 22, 2023
The move comes the same week as Trump announced he’ll appear in Detroit for the strike on Wednesday, instead of attending the second GOP presidential debate that evening in Simi Valley, California. While in the Motor City, Trump will hold a rally to win the support of unionized autoworkers, which comprise a key part of Biden’s base.
Notably, Biden has not received a re-election endorsement from the UAW yet even though the group endorsed him in 2020.
Trump’s announcement reportedly worried Democrats close to the White House, according to Politico, as it would have been bad optics if the incumbent president didn’t visit Detroit first. However, it is equally bad if it looks like Biden is “just going because of Trump,” one Democratic strategist said.
Trump certainly viewed Biden’s decision that way, posting Saturday on Truth Social that “Crooked Joe Biden had no intention of going to visit the United Autoworkers, until I announced that I would be heading to Michigan to be with them.”
Biden has been honing in on labor unions for his re-election campaign as he has repeatedly touted himself as the “most pro-union president in American history.” Despite the UAW’s lack of endorsement, the AFL-CIO, which represents 60 unions, and 17 other labor organizations have endorsed Biden so far.
The historic UAW strike began Sept. 15 after contract negotiations with the Big Three automakers failed simultaneously. The first day of the strike only involved about 12,700 of the UAW’s 150,000 members walking out of their jobs, in what Fain called a “limited and targeted” demonstration.
On Friday, however, the walkout has since grown to include 38 General Motors and Stellantis parts distribution centers across 20 U.S. states. Ford was absent from the strike’s expansion, considering talks between the automaker and union have made considerable progress.
The UAW is demanding autoworkers get a 36 percent wage increase and a 32-hour work week with 40 hours of pay, among other employment benefits.