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President Joe Biden offered praise and encouragement Tuesday to striking members of the United Auto Workers union, as he took the unprecedented step of joining them at a picket line in Belleville, Mich.
“Stick with it, because you deserve the significant raise you need and other benefits,” Biden said in remarks that lasted about a minute.
“Let’s get back what we lost, OK? We saved them; it’s about time for them to step up for us,” he added, referring to the Big Three automakers — General Motors
GM,
Ford
F,
and Chrysler parent Stellantis
STLA,
When asked by a reporter if he supported a 40% raise for UAW members, which is one of the union’s demands, Biden appeared to say “yes” after several workers said “yes.”
The White House later released a transcript that said Biden’s remarks were: “Yes, I think they should be able to bargain for that.” On Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said she wouldn’t “get into the details of what’s being negotiated” when asked if the president supported a 40% raise.
Biden’s appearance marked the first time a sitting president has visited a picket line in modern times, according to the White House.
The president’s trip to Michigan came a day before the 2024 Republican presidential primary’s frontrunner, Donald Trump, was due to visit a non-union automotive plant after earlier signaling he would meet with striking workers. UAW sources have said they didn’t invite Trump to a picket line.
The Democratic president’s show of solidarity with the UAW also came as pollster Morning Consult said the GOP had “closed its deficit against the Democratic Party on the question of caring about ‘people like me.’”
“You saved the automobile industry back in 2008 and before. You made a lot of sacrifices, you gave up a lot, and the companies were in trouble,” Biden also said during his brief remarks, delivered with the aid of a bullhorn. “Now they’re doing incredibly well and guess what? You should be doing incredibly well, too.”
UAW President Shawn Fain spoke after Biden and expressed gratitude.
“Thank you, Mr. President, for coming,” Fain said. “We know the president will do right by the working class.”
Now read: UAW strike: 5 things to know
Levi Sumagaysay contributed.
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