The United Auto Employees union’s resolution to go on strike early Friday at three vegetation of the so-called Massive Three automakers — Ford, Common Motors and Stellantis — is forcing the president to stroll a fragile political tightrope. Because the “most pro-union president” in historical past, a strike not solely complicates his labor credentials, however might additionally threaten the implementation of his inexperienced industrial agenda and broader financial plan as he heads right into a fraught election yr.
Biden introduced he was sending two members of his group, performing Labor Secretary Julie Su and chief financial adviser Gene Sperling, to Detroit to “provide their full assist” in contract negotiations. The president urged the 2 sides to return to the negotiating desk with a view to “attain a win-win settlement.”
For now, the strike stays restricted in scope, sparing the nation important instant financial penalties. However the strike will increase strain on the president to work with either side to achieve an settlement earlier than 150,000 union members in a number of different states take related measures.
The president’s position within the negotiations is hard: If employees see Biden’s participation as nothing greater than assist for his or her place, he might lose the union’s assist in 2024 — an endorsement for which his principal opponent, former President Donald Trump, has been jockeying.
