President Joe Biden has been working to strengthen his relationship with the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, celebrating their recent contract with General Motors (GM) and wishing UAW President Shawn Fain a happy birthday. The relationship between Biden and the union has been evolving since their first meeting in the Oval Office in July.
Fain led strikes against GM, Ford, and Chrysler-owner Stellantis, aiming to force political leaders to choose between supporting unions or corporations. While Biden has publicly expressed support for unions, he has not yet received the UAW’s endorsement in his reelection campaign.
The UAW has not commented on their relationship with the White House, and a decision on the endorsement is expected after the automakers’ contracts are finalized later this month. The UAW’s endorsement could be crucial for the outcome of the 2024 election, as their members are spread across key states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
To build trust with the UAW, the White House appointed Gene Sperling as the liaison for the strike talks. Sperling maintained daily contact with UAW executives and automaker representatives, aiming to be helpful without intervening or mediating.
During the strike, Biden publicly expressed support for the UAW and emphasized the sacrifices made by autoworkers during the 2008 financial crisis. This stance was seen as a way to appeal to union households, a decisive constituency for Democrats.
While organized labor has overwhelmingly supported Biden, the UAW has not fully warmed up to him. Fain, the UAW president, has occasionally differed with Biden, despite criticizing 2024 Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.
As negotiations progressed, Biden and his team became more aligned with the union. He advocated for a built-in cost-of-living adjustment for new contracts, which became part of the tentative agreement with GM. Biden also clarified his support for the UAW when his remarks about the strike were misinterpreted.
Biden visited a Michigan picket line in September, a first for a sitting president. Fain praised Biden for standing with workers but declined to endorse him.
The White House believes it has been building trust with the UAW throughout the negotiation process. Ford and Stellantis reached tentative agreements, and GM was close to finalizing theirs. Sperling remained in close contact with GM’s CEO and UAW officials, even messaging them while on a flight to be notified of any agreements.
The relationship between Biden and the UAW remains important, as the outcome could impact the 2024 election, given the UAW’s significant presence in key swing states.