Intro
In this episode of “The Daily”, the focus is on the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike against the big three automakers and its implications for the presidential politics. Joe Biden and Donald Trump are both vying for the support of unionized auto workers in Michigan, a key state in the auto industry. The strike, which is the broadest seen in decades, has become a battleground for the candidates’ messages on unions, climate change, and the future of the auto industry.
Main Takeaways
The Presidential Race and the UAW Strike
- The United Auto Workers are on strike against all three of the big three automakers (Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis).
- This is the broadest strike seen in decades, with picket lines at around 40 different plants and distribution centers.
- Joe Biden and Donald Trump see their path to the White House through Union America and specifically through the state of Michigan, the historic center of the auto industry.
- Both candidates are going to Michigan to appeal to workers who are supporting the strikers, but they have very different messages.
- Biden has made his brand unions and intends to be the most pro-union president in American history, while Trump is blaming Biden’s policies for sending Michigan auto workers to the unemployment line.
Biden’s Union Appeal
- “The United Auto Workers are seeking really remarkable gains. They want raises of about 40 percent. They want more time off. And they want the gains that they feel they lost after the great recession.” – Jonathan Weisman
- “That unions made the middle class and he is going to help unions re-emerge as the center of American middle income power.” – Joe Biden
- Biden gained support from unionized working class voters, especially in the upper Midwest, which was decisive in the 2020 election.
- Biden’s message appeals to both working class voters with his message about labor and unions and liberal voters who want action against climate change.
- Biden faces a challenge in reconciling his support for auto workers and unions with his climate agenda, as electric vehicles are generally not built by union workers.
Trump’s Pitch to Union Workers
- Trump has a remarkable ability to tear union voters away from their leaders.
- Trump’s appeal to union workers helped him win Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
- Trump’s fundamental pitch is that climate changes are a hoax and we don’t need to move to electric vehicles.
- Trump is urging unionized auto workers to stop the electric vehicle transition.
- Electric vehicles are an essential part of the big three automakers’ future, making Trump’s pitch to stop the EV transition complicated.
The Battle for Union Voters
- Voters don’t necessarily vote in their own economic interests; they vote with their heart and by emotion.
- The fight is for the hearts and minds of white working-class voters; Trump and Biden are competing for their support.
- Biden’s message is that the electric vehicle revolution is coming, and he will guide it in favor of unions, while Trump is living in a fantasy world of coal mines and steel mills.
- Union voters’ support could determine who sits in the White House in 2025.
Summary
The Presidential Politics of the Autoworkers’ Strike
The United Auto Workers’ strike against the big three automakers has become a battleground for Joe Biden and Donald Trump in their quest for the presidency. Biden is positioning himself as the most pro-union president in American history, appealing to unionized working class voters and liberal voters concerned about climate change. However, Biden faces the challenge of reconciling his support for unions with his climate agenda, as electric vehicles are generally not built by union workers. On the other hand, Trump is capitalizing on his ability to sway union voters away from their leaders, urging them to resist the electric vehicle transition. Despite the importance of electric vehicles to the future of the auto industry, Trump’s message resonates with some union members who feel he cares about their concerns. Ultimately, the battle for union voters’ support could determine the outcome of the presidential race in 2025.
Conclusion
The UAW strike has thrust the issues of unions, climate change, and the future of the auto industry into the spotlight of the presidential race. Biden and Trump are competing for the support of unionized auto workers in Michigan, a state crucial to their electoral success. Biden’s message of supporting unions while guiding the electric vehicle revolution aligns with his broader appeal to working class and liberal voters. Meanwhile, Trump’s pitch to resist the EV transition resonates with some union members who feel neglected by their leaders. The outcome of this battle for union voters’ support will have far-reaching implications for the future of the auto industry and the presidency.
