September 26, 2023—The power of the U.S. presidency is the bully pulpit, and today President Joe Biden put it to use.
As the national autoworkers’ strike grew in numbers and gained more news media attention, politicians are taking close notice. The issue is not only that the expanding strike has consequences for workers, consumers, business and the larger U.S. economy, it is also a political one.
It is not cynical to say that both parties want to win the loyalties of blue-collar workers, especially in a swing state like Michigan. It’s simply a practical matter in U.S. politics.
Biden Comments On Workers’ Pay
Today, Biden wooed striking workers in person. He arrived on the scene one day in advance of a visit to the area by Former President Donald Trump. Joining UAW President Shawn Fain and members of the union, Biden said workers should bargain for a 40 percent increase in pay.
“You deserve what you’ve earned, and you’ve earned a hell of a lot more than you’re getting paid now,” Biden said.
Deeper Issues To Consider
While some might question the sincerity of the trip, the appropriateness of a president joining a picket line, or even the cost of the government-funded visit, there are deeper issues to consider. As the auto industry undergoes technical change, workers face deep anxieties about job security, wages, and benefits.
The government is already playing a major role in the industry’s transition to electric vehicles. In 2021, Biden signed an executive order calling for half of all new cars and trucks made in America to be electric by 2030.
Moreover, one of Biden’s signature pieces of legislation, the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, created billions of dollars of federal subsidies and incentives for electric vehicles. Billionaire innovator Elon Musk is using some of them to build a new Tesla factory in Monterrey, Mexico.
It’s too soon to know how workers’ negotiations with the “Big 3” automakers Ford, GM, and Stellatis will work out. But more than likely, politicians will continue to take interest.
