Biden to walk the picket line in Michigan to support UAW strikers | CNN Politics
Biden to walk the picket line in Michigan to support UAW strikers | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden will travel to Michigan on Tuesday and walk the picket line with members of the United Auto Workers union, he announced Friday, a trip that comes after the president faced political pressure to ramp up his public support for the union members.
Although I support this I can't help but wonder... why didn't you do this during the rail strike? Hypocritical much? Such a slap in the face to those workers.
The rail strike would have had major economy-wide side effects, including people in other industries being laid off and inflation being exacerbated by shortages in basic food, water, gas.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/looming-rail-strike-would-take-a-major-toll-on-u-s-economy
After averting the strike, the Biden administration continued to pressure and negotiate with rail companies to get the paid sick days that were the sticking point. But there's been almost no news coverage about that fact.
"Negotiations with the other labor coalition unions continued toward a Sept. 15 deadline, but when it became obvious that the bargaining parties would not reach consensus by then, Biden asked then-Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh to assemble the sides and reach an acceptable agreement that would head off a national freight rail strike.
On deadline day, the parties reached an agreement on an updated contract that included the biggest wage increases in 47 years. Over the next several weeks, while acknowledging that the agreement was less than perfect, the IBEW and several of its fellow coalition unions voted to ratify the agreement. A handful of others, however, did not, instead threatening a December freight rail strike.
Biden, citing the potential economic impact of a national freight rail strike during the winter holidays, on Nov. 28 called on Congress to impose the emergency board’s agreement.
Since then, several other railroad-related unions have also seen success in negotiating for similar sick-day benefits. These 12 unions represent more than 105,000 railroad workers. (emphasis mine)
“Biden deserves a lot of the credit for achieving this goal for us,” Russo said. “He and his team continued to work behind the scenes to get all of rail labor a fair agreement for paid sick leave.”
https://www.ibew.org/media-center/Articles/23Daily/2306/230620_IBEWandPaid
A much, much larger question is this: If that rail infrastructure is THIS critical to the basic functioning of our economy, why are we allowing it to be held hostage by private for-profit corporations? This shit should be nationalized and those should be government jobs.
Thanks for posting this. I've been badmouthing Biden ever since he blocked the railroad strike, but that quote from a union leader — “Biden deserves a lot of the credit for achieving this goal for us. He and his team continued to work behind the scenes to get all of rail labor a fair agreement for paid sick leave" — finally cools my steam.
When he shows up and carries a UAW picket, I am ready to be honestly impressed.
True.
Any company or corporation that is so critical to the functioning over this country that it absolutely cannot shut down... Should be nationalized.
If the government needs it to function for the country to exist, then the government needs to own it.
The rail strike would have had major economy-wide side effects, including people in other industries being laid off and inflation being exacerbated by shortages in basic food, water, gas.
so essentially since these workers aren't as important, they're allowed to play around a little bit with a strike?
The optimist in me wants to believe that he realized that was a mistake and now has an opportunity to do the right thing this time.
Biden has shown that he is willing to change his opinions and actions when he makes a mistake. He voted for Defense of Marriage Act back in the 90's, but IIRC after he became friends with an aid who happened to be trans (yeah, trans ≠ gay, but I guess they're close enough in some people's eyes) his opinions on LGBT people changed and he now strongly supports gay marriage. Point being, he could have changed his mind about striking workers too.
why didn't you do this during the rail strike?
I suspect it has something to do with an upcoming something that rhymes with “Melekshin Beer”.
Exactly
This is smart. And very nimble too, slipping in there a day before Trumpolini's visit
He needs to address the fact that all the green energy stimulus going to EVs has gone to non-union plants and rectify the situation immediately. That has been a huge blow to UAW.
Rank and file stand on a picket line because withholding their labor is their political power. Biden has power to put forth policy to improve working people's lives, standing on a picket line without action is just a photo op.
Permanently Deleted
Democrats placating political energy instead of fostering it is what led to Trump in the first place. More of the same does nothing to diminish that threat.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
“Tuesday, I’ll go to Michigan to join the picket line and stand in solidarity with the men and women of UAW as they fight for a fair share of the value they helped create.
Biden’s trip, and the historic presidential appearance on a picket line, underscores the political opportunity as the strike against the nation’s three largest automakers – General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis – enters its second week.
While Biden has repeatedly touted his status as the most pro-labor president, the UAW has yet to offer an endorsement of his reelection bid as he faces low polling numbers on his handling of economic issues.
Presidents, including Biden, have previously declined to wade into union disputes to avoid the perception of taking sides on issues where the negotiating parties are often engaged in litigation.
The National Labor Relations Board, whose members are appointed by the president but expected to function as an independent entity, currently has nearly 30 cases pending that were filed by the United Auto Workers.
Earlier this year Fain was vocal in his criticism of Biden, especially for his administration’s financial support of a transition by the auto industry from traditional gasoline powered cars to electric vehicles, which the UAW sees as a threat to its members’ jobs.
The original article contains 778 words, the summary contains 211 words. Saved 73%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!
Nice gesture, too bad that's all it is.