The United Auto Workers (UAW), a formidable union representing over 400,000 hardworking members in the auto industry, has taken a stand by refraining from endorsing President Joe Biden. Their decision stems from apprehensions about the administration’s ambitious pursuit of Electric Vehicles (EVs), which the UAW believes could inadvertently undermine job security and fair wages for American auto workers.
UAW President Shawn Fain conveyed the union’s stance in an internal communication, emphasizing the need for substantial commitments from national leadership to protect the interests of auto workers before any endorsement is considered.
Over the years, there has been extensive discourse, not widely discussed, regarding the potential ramifications of a publicly-funded transition from traditional combustion engines to EVs. The UAW has expressed concerns that this transition could result in the loss of millions of auto industry jobs and significantly reduce workers’ wages.
President Biden’s “decarbonization” efforts, including green energy mandates aimed at skyrocketing EV sales, have triggered additional worries. Some fear that this push could shift the auto industry’s epicenter from Detroit, Michigan, to China, which would have far-reaching consequences.
The recent announcement of a whopping $9 billion loan from the Biden administration to Ford for the establishment of EV plants in Tennessee and Kentucky drew swift criticism from the UAW. The union lambasted the decision, asserting that doling out such vast sums of taxpayer money without guaranteeing job security and fair wages for American auto workers was deeply problematic.
UAW President Fain went on to question the rationale behind facilitating corporate greed with taxpayer funds. He highlighted the plight of laid-off workers in Lordstown, Ohio, who saw their previous jobs vanish when General Motors (GM) shuttered a plant and replaced it with a lower-paying EV battery facility, resulting in workers earning barely half of their previous wages. Fain expressed disappointment in the current administration’s failure to rectify this situation, further exacerbating concerns.
The UAW’s decision not to endorse President Biden underscores their unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights and livelihoods of auto workers. They call for a more comprehensive approach that prioritizes the welfare of American workers in the transition to electric vehicles, urging greater accountability and fairness.