Democrats support UAW strike, aid union workers.
Democrats Rally Behind UAW Workers in Historic Auto Strike
From establishment types to progressives, Democrats are coming out in droves to support UAW workers after the country’s largest auto union began a historic strike.
About 13,000 UAW auto workers at factories in Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio began striking on Friday after contract negotiations reached a stalemate. The union, which represents some 150,000 workers with General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, the company that took over Chrysler’s operations, marks the first work stoppage involving all three automakers.
UAW ANNOUNCES HISTORIC AUTO STRIKE AFTER NEGOTIATIONS WITH AUTOMAKERS FALTER
“It’s time to decide what side you’re on,” Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), a staunch progressive, said in a statement on the strike. “Are you on the side of the ‘Big Three’ CEOs who made a combined $74 million last year, and are now claiming they can’t afford to pay their workers? Or are you on the side of the UAW workers who bust their ass every day, the people who build the American cars and trucks we Pennsylvanians drive?
“I know which side I’m on,” he added. “As long as these brave workers continue to walk the picket line, my entire team and I will have their backs. We will support them any way we can until they reach a fair deal.”
It wasn’t just progressives like Fetterman and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) who spoke out in defense of the striking workers. Leaders in the party establishment ranging from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) defended the union and called on the automakers to reach an agreement that is fair to workers.
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), Fetterman’s home-state colleague who is up for reelection next year, also issued a wholehearted defense of the striking workers. Casey noted in a Friday statement that, “When the auto industry was struggling, UAW members voluntarily reduced their benefits to help these companies survive, and when the industry collapsed during the financial crisis, taxpayers bailed them out.
“Now as business is booming, profits are sky-high, and CEOs are being rewarded with double-digit raises — suddenly the Big 3 are claiming that the well has dried up,” he continued. “Striking is always a last resort for workers, who risk losing their health care and may never make up the wages lost. I stand in solidarity with the United Auto Workers as they fight for their fair share. I urge the Big 3 to come to the table with offers that reflect what these workers deserve.”
Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) were among the Democrats who took a more personal tone, sharing stories of family members’ experiences on assembly lines while promoting their solidarity.
Some House and Senate lawmakers were on the picket lines outside factories across the country on Friday.
Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) were both on hand in Wayne, Michigan, while Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), who is also up for reelection, was spotted with picketers outside a factory in Toledo, Ohio. Sanders, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, took part in a Friday afternoon rally alongside UAW President Shawn Fain in Detroit, Michigan, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) stopped by a picket line at a factory in her home state.
Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), who is running for the retiring Stabenow’s seat, was also on the picket lines in Wayne on Friday, as were Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Haley Stevens (D-MI), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).
The broad party support is not entirely surprising given Democrats’ decades-long union ties.
Even President Joe Biden, a longtime union advocate, urged automakers to recognize that their “record profits” in recent years came “because of the extraordinary skill and sacrifices the UAW workers” while addressing the strike on Friday.
“Let’s be clear: No one wants a strike. Say it again: No one wants a strike,” he said, trying to convey a balanced message. “But I respect the workers’ right to use their options under the collective bargaining system, and I understand the workers’ frustration.”
The last time UAW went on strike, a six-week stoppage against General Motors in 2019, it cost the auto giant some $3.6 billion, and Michigan, home to many GM workers, experienced a recession during that quarter.
But this time is a bit different.
This strike is the first work stoppage to involve all three Detroit automakers. Fain also said the stoppages would be strategic, targeting one major plant each of GM, Ford, and Stellantis. That means that it could drag on longer than other strikes and gives the union leverage to keep adding pressure by shutting down additional factories.
Even if workers were to grow wary of the economic consequences, Democrats appear ready to stay in their corner for as long as necessary.
“Solidarity forever,” as Fetterman put it.
Zachary Halaschak contributed to this report.
What specific issues do Democrats highlight regarding the auto industry’s treatment of workers, and why do they believe the UAW deserves fair compensation?
Gside UAW workers in Detroit, Michigan.
The show of support from Democrats comes at a critical time as the UAW seeks better wages, benefits, and job security for its members. The strike is a clear message to the auto industry that workers will not be taken advantage of and that their contributions to the success of these companies should be duly recognized.
Democrats, from progressives to establishment figures, recognize the importance of the strike and the need to stand with the UAW workers. The rallying cry is for fairness and justice in the workplace, particularly in an industry that has seen substantial profits and executive compensation soar while workers have made sacrifices.
Sen. Fetterman, a progressive voice within the Democratic Party, highlights the stark contrast between the CEOs’ massive earnings and the claims of inability to provide fair compensation for workers. He, along with other Democrats, firmly supports the UAW workers and their fight for a fair deal.
Establishment leaders like Sen. Schumer, Sen. Durbin, and former Speaker Pelosi echo the sentiment that the automakers must reach an agreement that respects the rights and contributions of the workers. Their support reinforces the idea that this is not merely a partisan issue but a matter of basic fairness and dignity for workers.
Sen. Casey emphasizes the history of UAW members’ sacrifices during difficult times in the industry and the role of taxpayers in bailing out the automakers. Now that the industry is thriving, he calls on the Big 3 to acknowledge the workers’ deserving share of the success.
Other senators, such as Booker and Cortez Masto, share personal stories of family members working in the auto industry, adding a human touch to their solidarity with the workers. It highlights the fact that the UAW workers are not anonymous faces but individuals striving for better conditions for themselves and their families.
Lawmakers going to the picket lines outside factories across the country demonstrate their commitment to physically stand with the workers. Sens. Peters and Stabenow in Michigan and Sen. Brown in Ohio show their solidarity and support in crucial states for the party and the UAW.
Sen. Sanders’ participation in the rally in Detroit emphasizes his dedication to the labor movement and his unwavering support for workers’ rights. His presence amplifies the message that this strike is not just about one union or one group of workers, but a broader fight for economic justice.
The overwhelming support from Democrats for the UAW workers is a powerful testament to the party’s commitment to workers’ rights and economic fairness. It underlines the fact that the struggle of the UAW workers is not isolated but representative of the larger issue of income inequality and the need for a more equitable economic system.
As the historic auto strike continues, the Democratic Party’s backing of UAW workers serves as a rallying point for the labor movement, shining a light on the need for systemic change and a fair deal for workers across industries. This moment underscores the importance of standing in solidarity with workers and addressing the fundamental issues of income disparity and workers’ rights that have long plagued the country.
As Democrats galvanize their support for the UAW workers, the strike becomes more than just a labor dispute but a symbol of the ongoing struggle for economic justice and the power of collective action.
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