Sidelined on UAW strikes, Biden White House talks economic aid
By Nandita Bose
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -As the UAW strike enters its fifth day, the Biden administration is hobbled by a lack of legal authority to steer the talks and difficulty in figuring out UAW President Shawn Fain's negotiating strategy and leadership style, three sources said.
The Biden White House is having discussions about ways to blunt any economic fallout from a full walkout in the auto workers strike, the sources said, as U.S. officials acknowledge they have a limited role to play in talks between General Motors (NYSE:GM), Ford (NYSE:F) and Chrysler-owner Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) and the union.
Top administration officials have held multiple calls with union leaders, Michigan lawmakers, company executives, suppliers, outside labor advisers and economists in the run-up to the strike to discuss aid for workers, suppliers and the local state economy, while both parties continue negotiations, one of the sources said.
The White House has started an «inter-agency process» to study the economic implications of the strike, with a focus on workers, said a fourth source familiar with the matter. The process is triggered by «all events that could reasonably affect employment and the economy,» the source said.
The White House and the administration have discussed «mitigation efforts» in the event of a full work stoppage, not in response to the actions taken by the union currently, two sources said.
White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson said «no decision has been made» on offering aid or measures to lessen the economic impact on affected workers.
On Friday, Biden sided clearly with the union, telling automakers to concede more to workers who walked off the job at Detroit's largest car companies and share record profits
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