Biden to deliver remarks on United Auto Workers strike after talks collapse
WASHINGTON – The White House announced that President Joe Biden would speak on Friday on the contract talks between the United Auto Workers union and the Big Three automakers.
Members of the union went on strike at midnight, striking at three plants: a General Motors factory in Missouri, a Stellantis facility in Ohio, and a Ford assembly plant in Michigan.
According to the White House, Biden has been carefully monitoring the progress of the discussions and was informed twice a day on their status while in India and Vietnam last week.
Before leaving for Asia, Biden called the CEOs of the Big Three automakers and pushed them to remain at the negotiation table, according to the White House.
Biden, who campaigned on becoming the most pro-labor president, visited UAW president Shawn Fain in the Oval Office in mid-July, and the two talked again on Labor Day. The White House stated in a post on X, previously known as Twitter, on Thursday that Biden had talked with Fain again, as well as the CEOs of the three major automakers.
Officials at the White House have said that Biden believes in collective bargaining and has sought a solution that benefits middle-class workers.
White House economic advisor Gene Sperling has been the main person on important labor union and auto industry problems. According to the White House, he has been consulting with interim Labor Secretary Julie Su.
Prior to the walkout, Biden said on Labor Day that he was not concerned about a UAW strike “until it happens.”
