Biden sending aides to Detroit to address autoworkers strike, says 'record profits' should be shared
President Joe Biden says he’s dispatching two of his top aides to Detroit to help resolve the strike by unionized autoworkers
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday dispatched two of his top aides to Detroit to help resolve the strike by unionized autoworkers, expressing sympathy for the union by suggesting that the Big 3 automakers should share their “record profits.”
“No one wants to strike,” Biden said in brief remarks at the White House. “But I respect workers’ right to use their options under the collective bargaining system, and I understand the workers’ frustration.”
The United Auto Workers announced a targeted strike of 13,000 workers at three factories after failing to reach a contract with General Motors, Ford and Stellantis. Biden said he is sending acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and senior aide Gene Sperling to Detroit to help reach a “win-win” contract for the companies and their employees.
Biden said that when negotiations began, he encouraged leaders of the two sides to stay at the bargaining table as long as possible. Just a fraction of the UAW’s 146,000 members employed by the Big 3 are striking. The UAW is seeking 36% wage increases over four years. GM and Ford have proposed 20%, while Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler, has put forward 17.5%
“The companies have made some significant offers,” Biden said. “But I believe they should go further to ensure record corporate profits mean record contracts for the UAW.”
The strike began just as Biden is branding the U.S. economy as his own. Going into the 2024 presidential election, the White House has said its policies will help blue collar workers, bolster the middle class and create factory jobs by shifting away from fossil fuels to address climate
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