UAW strike 2023: Biden joins UAW picket line, Trump heads to Michigan
(CBS DETROIT) - President Joe Biden visited autoworkers on the picket line Tuesday as they entered the 12th day of striking against the Big Three automakers.
Biden arrived in Michigan on Tuesday, Sept. 26, to show his support for union members.
He landed and was first greeted by UAW President Shawn Fain, along with U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit and Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist.
The president then headed to the General Motors Willow Run Redistribution Center in Van Buren Township to join autoworkers on the picket line.
He told autoworkers they deserved a pay raise and increase in other benefits.
"You gave up a lot when the companies were in trouble," said Biden during his speech. "Now, they're doing incredibly well. And guess what? You should be doing incredibly well, too."
The president also said, "Wall Street didn't build the country. The middle class built the country, and unions built the middle class. That's a fact. Let's keep it going."
A day after his visit, his campaign released a 30-second ad slamming former President Donald Trump's history with autoworkers ahead of his visit to Michigan on Wednesday, Sept. 27.
This is the first ad attacking Trump released by Biden's campaign, and will air nationally, on cable networks and in Michigan.
Watch Biden speak to autoworkers:
Biden announced his trip shortly after Trump did, which caused Trump to accuse Biden of only visiting the autoworkers because he had planned to.
"Crooked Joe Biden had no intention of going to visit the United Autoworkers, until I announced that I would be heading to Michigan to be with them," Trump said in a social media post. "If the UAW 'leadership' doesn't ENDORSE me, and if I don't win the Election, the Autoworkers are 'toast'..."
Trump will skip the Republican presidential debate on Wednesday to give a speech to union members.
UAW President Shawn Fain to make another announcement
UAW sources say Shawn Fain is expected to announce the next steps for the 2023 UAW strikes against the Detroit automakers, which could mean additional strikes.
The announcement will happen at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 29, a week after his most recent Facebook Live.
UAW strike expands to 41 locations
UAW members walked out after contracts expired at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14, after the union and Ford, General Motors and Stellantis failed to reach an agreement before contracts expired.
The strike initially affected one plant at each of the three automakers but has since expanded to 38 additional locations across 20 states.
The strike expansion was targeted at General Motors and Stellantis parts distribution facilities, as UAW President Shawn Fain said negotiations with Ford had made serious progress.
No agreements have been reached yet.
Among the union's demands are a 36% pay increase, a four-day work week and cost-of-living adjustments.
Today, experts joined CBS New Detroit to talk about the latest on the UAW strike, which can be watched here:
They also discussed the latest on the UAW strike, and that discussion can be watched here:
For more on the latest UAW news, visit here.
