GOP Senator Rallies Behind UAW Workers' Demands, Criticizes Union Leadership: 'Just Shut Your Mouth And Take Support'

As nationwide strikes at auto manufacturing plants persist, some populist Republicans are demonstrating support for the United Auto Workers (UAW) demands, marking a break from their party’s traditional stances, Business Insider reported.

The Republicans, however, continue to be politically at odds with the union’s assertive leadership, hinting at deeper issues within organized labor that may hinder any potential populist shift in the near future.

The report includes remarks from Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio.) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), both of whom argue that the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), encouraged by the Biden administration, is complicating bargaining for auto workers and leading to further offshoring of their jobs to China.

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“There’s a significant tension between the president of UAW’s political stance and his workers’ best interests,” Sen. Vance stated.

Despite their support for the UAW demands, both senators maintain their criticism of UAW President Shawn Fain for not voicing these concerns amid the ongoing strike due to labor’s historic ties with the Democrats.

“The whole problem that we have is a guy like Shawn Fain blasting Donald Trump. At the very least, just shut your mouth, and take the support from wherever you can get it,” he added.

A full summer of bargaining between the UAW and Detroit’s Ford F, GM GM, and Stellantis STLA led to no significant progress, leading to Fain’s call for strikes across various assembly plants, a first in UAW history.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, critical of electric vehicles, has positioned himself as an ally to the striking workers. His standing among these workers appears to be growing, with recent polling suggesting that Trump led Biden among Michigan union members by a 46% to 43% margin in August.

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