President Biden put on a United Automobile Workers T-shirt and celebrated a significant labor deal in Illinois, where he showed his support for unions. He used the appearance to highlight the agreement that kept a Stellantis manufacturing plant in operation.
During his speech, Mr. Biden also emphasized the importance of clean energy, despite concerns from some workers about his climate change agenda potentially impacting their jobs. He also drew a comparison with former President Donald J. Trump, stating that during his predecessor’s term, six factories closed across the country, resulting in the loss of thousands of auto jobs nationwide.
Mr. Biden commended the union leaders, particularly Shawn Fain, the president of the U.A.W., for their efforts in the automobile industry. However, Mr. Fain did not provide Mr. Biden with the endorsement of the union, as the union boss has been critical of some administration decisions regarding the push for electric vehicles.
The Biden administration has proposed ambitious climate regulations, aiming for two-thirds of new passenger cars to be all-electric by 2032. While this initiative could lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, it also raises concerns for autoworkers, as it takes fewer laborers to assemble an all-electric vehicle compared to a gasoline-powered car. Many fear that the new manufacturing plants for electric vehicle parts are being built in states that are unfriendly towards unions.
Overall, the transition to clean energy and electric vehicles brings mixed emotions and uncertainties for the workers. Although new factories for electric vehicle batteries will be needed, the shift could lead to changes in job roles and require retraining for many assembly workers.
