Joe Biden visited striking auto workers. He went to the picket line in front of the General Motors Willow Run Redistribution Center, located in Belleville, Mich., and accompanied several of the members of the United Auto Workers (UAW), the union that called the strike in mid-September demanding wage increases. The president did not hesitate to support them.
"Wall Street didn't build the country. The middle class built the country. And unions built the middle class. That's a fact. So let's keep going. You deserve what you've earned and you've earned a hell of a lot more than you're getting paid now. Thank you very much," the president said this Tuesday while several strikers applauded him.
UAW members, your president stands with you. pic.twitter.com/nD9Bc0NGDi
— President Biden (@POTUS) September 26, 2023
Based on the profits of the big three auto companies (Ford, Stellantis and General Motors), Biden demanded that they compensate their employees with higher salaries:
Record corporate profits should mean record contracts. It's time American autoworkers got a fair deal.
Record corporate profits should mean record contracts.
It's time American autoworkers got a fair deal. pic.twitter.com/DN2IMbcuuh
— President Biden (@POTUS) September 26, 2023
As seen in the images, Biden had only the company of a small group of UAW members. There are about 13,000 workers currently on strike. Even so, UAW President Shawn Fain wanted to thank the president for coming:
Our President chose to stand up with workers in our fight for economic and social justice. Thank you, Mr. President, for coming. We know the President will do right by the working class.
With his presence at the picket, Biden has spoken with one of the two parties involved in this strike.
Trump attends this Wednesday
On Wednesday, Republican primary candidate Donald Trump will meet with UAW members at a plant in Clinton Township, Mich., in Macomb County.
Trump has prioritized visiting the striking union members over attending the second Republican debate, which is being held the same day in the city of Simi Valley, Calif. Trump could have participated in the debate, as he meets the criteria for donations and surveys.
The second debate will feature Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence, Chris Christie, Tim Scott and Doug Burgum.
