Amidst an ongoing strike by the United Auto Workers (UAW), the union’s president, Shawn Fain, has openly criticized former President Donald Trump in advance of his visit to Detroit. Fain accuses Trump of favoring the ‘billionaire class’ over the needs of the working class.
What Happened: Fain expressed his dissatisfaction with Trump on Monday, a day before Trump’s scheduled visit to Detroit, as reported by The Hill.
Trump is set to meet with both current and former union workers amidst a strike against the “Big Three” automakers — Ford Motor Company F, General Motors Company GM, and Stellantis NV STLA.
Fain criticized Trump’s decision to host a rally at a non-union plant in Michigan and accused the former president of lying about UAW’s role in the struggles of car companies.
"He serves a billionaire class and that's what's wrong this country," Fain said, according to the report.
“His track record speaks for itself. In 2008, during the Great Recession, he blamed UAW members, he blamed our contracts for everything that was wrong with these companies — that's a complete lie.”
Why It Matters: Trump’s visit to Detroit occurs during a historic strike by UAW. The former President’s decision to bypass a second Republican primary debate in favor of a Detroit rally has been seen as an attempt to engage with union workers. However, this move has been met with criticism from Fain, who questions Trump’s sincerity towards the working class.
In contrast, current President Biden joined the picket line with union autoworkers, marking the first time a sitting president has done so. Yet, Fain has not yet endorsed Biden’s reelection bid, due to concerns over the administration's push for electric vehicles, which could potentially put autoworkers' jobs at risk.
The UAW’s non-endorsement of Biden and their criticism of Trump highlight the union’s stance that political endorsements must be earned and are not given lightly. This comes at a time when UAW is demanding wage and pension increases, cost-of-living pay raises, and other benefits for their workers as they continue their strike against the major automakers.
Photo by a katz on Shutterstock
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