President Biden praised labor unions and highlighted his administration’s efforts to create union jobs as part of his economic agenda, despite the looming threat of strikes that could harm the U.S. economy.
During his visit to a shipyard in Philadelphia, Biden declared, “I made a commitment that I’d be the most pro-union president in history, and I’m keeping that promise.” He emphasized the importance of union workers, stating that they do the job right, on time, and at a lower long-term cost compared to non-union labor.
However, a series of strikes and potential strikes cast a shadow over the economy. The Writers Guild and the Screen Actors Guild are currently on strike in Hollywood, demanding a greater share of streaming revenues and protection against the impact of artificial intelligence on their jobs. This strike has halted TV and movie production with no immediate resolution in sight.
Additionally, approximately 34,000 UPS workers are threatening to strike if a deal is not reached by July 31. The drivers, represented by the Teamsters, are requesting air conditioning in vehicles and better pay for weekend shifts. Such a strike could have severe consequences for the economy, making it difficult to stock shelves and deliver crucial supplies like medicine. Other delivery companies, such as FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service, cannot fully compensate, potentially resulting in billions of dollars in losses for the economy.
Meanwhile, the United Auto Workers have begun contract negotiations with auto manufacturers, and a strike is likely. The union is advocating for protections for union workers at new electric vehicle battery plants. The current union contract expires on September 14.
President Biden has met with the president of the United Auto Workers union and has been in discussions with the leadership of General Motors, Ford Motor Co., and Stellantis. Notably, both the Teamsters and the United Auto Workers endorsed Biden during his 2020 campaign, but they have not yet backed his 2024 reelection bid.
The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, affirmed that workers have the right to strike and deserve fair wages and benefits. However, when asked about potential intervention in the UPS strike, she expressed confidence that both sides would reach an agreement.
Biden has been actively promoting unionization across various sectors. He has engaged with workers from Starbucks, minor league baseball, Sega (video game manufacturer), and Blue Bird (school bus builder) to support their unionization efforts.
Although the percentage of U.S. workers belonging to unions has significantly declined over the years, Biden contends that his pro-union agenda is evidence of his support for the middle class. His signed legislation, such as the climate, infrastructure, and semiconductor laws, include provisions that prioritize the use of union labor.
Biden emphasized, “We’re making sure these jobs come free and fair and with the ability to join a union if you’re not already in a union.”
Under Biden’s leadership, the American Rescue Plan allocated billions to struggling union pension plans.
