A member of the United Auto Workers union protests outside the Ford Motor Co. Michigan Assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan on September 15, 2023.
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The Biden administration will not be sending two top officials to Detroit this week to assist in negotiations between striking autoworkers and the Big Three car companies, according to a White House official.
Last week, President Joe Biden announced that White House senior advisor Gene Sperling and acting Labor Secretary Julie Su would be sent to support discussions between the companies and the United Auto Workers union.
However, it has been mutually agreed by the White House and the UAW to conduct the talks virtually via Zoom, the official stated on Tuesday.
Although Sperling and Su may still visit Detroit next week, there are currently no confirmed plans for them to do so. “We’ll continue to assess travel timing based on the active state of negotiations,” added the White House official.
President Biden expressed his support for the striking autoworkers in a speech on Friday. He called on Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis to share their record profits with their workers.
Despite this, President Biden has not been warmly received by the UAW.
Union President Shawn Fain said in an interview on Monday that he does not see a major role for the White House in resolving the dispute. Fain emphasized that the battle is about the workers standing up for economic and social justice, rather than any specific president.
Currently, nearly 13,000 UAW members are on strike at key plants in Michigan, Ohio, and Missouri. This is the first time the union has simultaneously targeted all three automakers.
Fain stated on Monday that if “serious progress” is not made in negotiations by noon on Friday, the UAW will launch additional strikes at more Ford, GM, and Stellantis plants.
Biden, who often highlights his middle-class background, has aligned himself closely with the labor movement. However, these strikes may prove to be a test of his commitment to organized labor, especially if they escalate and pose a threat to the broader economy as he seeks re-election.
Former President Donald Trump had urged the UAW to endorse his 2024 presidential bid while simultaneously criticizing the union’s leadership.
Trump has decided to forego the GOP primary debate next week and instead travel to Detroit to meet with union members.
