Biden supports the unionization efforts at Tesla and Toyota while criticizing Trump.

The report was created by OXShare

In a show of support, President Joe Biden voiced his agreement with the United Auto Workers in their push to establish unions at Tesla and Toyota. He also urged automobile workers to refuse his Republican rival, Donald Trump.

In an effort to garner support for his economic plans and strengthen his diminishing popularity before his upcoming re-election campaign, President Biden addressed UAW workers in Belvidere, Illinois.

Wearing a red UAW shirt, Biden expressed his congratulations to Shawn Fain, the leader of the UAW, and emphasized the tentative contract deals reached between the union and Detroit’s major automakers. These agreements effectively brought an end to a strike that had lasted for nearly 45 days.

Biden expressed his desire for all autoworkers to have this specific kind of contract during his speech in Belvidere.

While on his way to the event, Biden expressed full support to the UAW’s endeavors in unionizing workers from Tesla and Toyota, affirming that he supports this cause without a doubt.

Toyota stated that it aims to cultivate a positive working atmosphere and enhance the efficiency of its employees as a response to Biden’s comments. The Japanese car manufacturer mentioned in a statement that the final call to unionize is determined by its team members.

Tesla did not provide an immediate response to Biden’s comment, despite his support for the UAW in previous speeches.

In September, Trump, who is currently leading in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, paid a visit to a factory in Michigan that is not affiliated with labor unions. In contrast, Biden supported striking UAW workers by joining them on the picket line, effectively reminding the workers of his solidarity.

Biden expressed his desire for everyone to remember the significance of his roots, stating that it holds importance in his hometown. Although union workers make up just 10% of the American workforce, their backing was crucial in securing Biden’s victory in states like Michigan during the 2020 election, and it is anticipated that their support will continue to have a major influence in the upcoming 2024 election.

Fain previously stated that the union planned to organize the nonunion employees at the American locations of foreign car manufacturers. Union leaders have indicated that Toyota, specifically its extensive plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, could be among the first to be targeted in these organizing endeavors.

MUSK’S ANTI-UNION STANCE

Biden’s remarks could potentially reignite tension between the President of the United States and Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, particularly as the UAW aims to unionize Tesla employees.

For a long time, the UAW has attempted without success to unionize American automobile factories that are not affiliated with any unions. These factories are primarily established by Asian and European car manufacturers in the southern states of the US. The presence of right-to-work labor laws in these states grants workers the choice of whether or not to contribute union dues.

Musk and Biden clashed in the past, and in 2021 Musk claimed that Biden’s electric-vehicle strategy seemed to be influenced by labor unions. It was not until February 2022 that Biden publicly recognized Tesla’s electric vehicle manufacturing, following Musk’s repeated grievances of being overlooked by the president.

In recent times, the UAW made an attempt to secure sufficient backing from employees at Tesla’s factory in Fremont, California, in order to conduct a vote for unionization. However, their efforts were not successful. Previously, when the factory was co-owned by GM and Toyota and referred to as NUMMI, it operated as a UAW workplace.

The UAW lodged a formal complaint with the National Labor Relations Board about a tweet from Musk in 2018. In the tweet, Musk questioned the need to pay union dues and sacrifice stock options for no apparent gain. The NLRB concluded that the tweet breached laws that forbid management from intimidating workers who show support for forming a union.

PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT?

Once again on Thursday, Biden’s presence provided him with an opportunity to demonstrate his support for unions to the UAW, a labor organization that has not yet given him their endorsement, unlike most other labor groups.

In September, UAW’s Fain declined the opportunity to meet with Trump, portraying him as a wealthy individual disconnected from reality, who lacks any concern for the values or interests of our workers and the working class.

Labor leaders and Democratic officials anticipate that the UAW will endorse Biden once their members give their approval to the tentative contract agreements. These agreements not only substantially increase the wages of auto workers but also successfully concluded a strike that was aimed at General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, the company behind Jeep, Dodge, and Ram vehicles.

Mark Burton, a Democratic strategist and former chief strategist for Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, stated that the initial relationship between Biden and Fain was not as comfortable as it currently is. He works as a partner at the law firm Honigman.

According to Burton, Biden’s decision to adopt a more supportive yet quiet position during the UAW negotiations resulted in better relations. Burton also mentioned that Biden has successfully developed a positive working rapport with Shawn Fain, and as a result, an endorsement is likely to be forthcoming soon.