(TargetLiberty.org) – On Tuesday President Biden made the unprecedented decision to join the striking United Auto Workers picket line. This is the first time that a U.S. President has taken such a decision to show solidarity.
Biden during his appearance at the picket line at General Motors facility in Belleville, Michigan spoke to the group of protestors along with the union’s President Shawn Fain. In his remarks, he pointed out that the United States was not built by Wall Street, but rather by the middle class and unions.
While wearing a quarter-zip sweater and baseball cap he spoke to striking workers encouraging them to continue the strikes as they deserve higher compensation than the one they are currently receiving. Those in the picket line were also holding signs and banners that read “saving the American dream” and “UAW on strike.”
Biden pointed out that the UAW had made sacrifices in order to help save the automobile industry in 2008 and that now that the industry had recovered and was going incredibly well, they needed to increase the benefits that they provide workers. He then advocated that they needed to continue with the strikes in order to recover everything that was lost.
The negotiations between the striking members of the union, and the Big Three, General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis have been focused on increasing salaries, providing more career security, and better pensions. Workers have also expressed concerns about how the shift towards electric vehicles might affect their position and pay.
Biden had previously stated that the workers deserve the 40 percent pay increase they are demanding.
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