Shawn Fain, president of the United Automobile Workers (UAW), spoke out against former President Donald Trump before his visit to Detroit. Fain draws attention to the plight of workers and the growing gap between the billionaire class and the working class. Union members, previously loyal Democratic voters, are increasingly leaning toward Republican candidates.
Although Trump hopes to win the support of auto workers during his visit, he is drawing criticism from Fain himself. Fain won the union’s recent leadership election by capitalizing on anti-government sentiment among UAW workers. Trump claims the UAW president doesn’t have the best interests of union members at heart and urged them to reject the Biden administration’s push toward electric vehicles.
Fain has made the transition to electric vehicles one of the union’s top concerns, fearing it could lead to job losses. However, the reality is that the transition is inevitable due to growing consumer demand for electric vehicles. Still, Fain continues to pressure GM, Ford and Stellantis to ensure a “just transition” to electric vehicles that preserves union jobs.
Fain was also critical of President Biden and expressed disappointment over the lack of support for the auto workers’ cause. Although the UAW typically supports Democratic presidential candidates, Fain has not yet endorsed Biden. This increases pressure on the president, who is already facing low approval ratings.
Some Democratic politicians, like California Rep. Ro Khanna, are calling on Biden and other Democrats to show their support by joining the picket lines. Khanna argues that the Democratic Party must show that it is the party of the working class.
In short, Fain’s criticism of Trump and Biden reflects union members’ growing disillusionment with the current economic situation and the lack of substantive support from politicians.
