Biden tells UAW head Shawn Fain in Illinois: ‘You’ve finished one hell of a job, pal’

Close to the highest of his speech to an enthusiastic crowd, Biden highlighted his historical past of supporting labor throughout his decades-long political profession, in addition to his historic September go to to the picket line alongside Fain on the GM Willow Run Distribution Heart in Belleville, Mich.

“Look, that day in Michigan, I stated the auto strike was a couple of easy proposition. You guys sacrificed to save lots of the auto trade” throughout the 2008 monetary disaster, Biden stated.

“… And now, the auto firms are doing extremely properly.  So, auto employees ought to be doing extremely properly, as properly. You saved the auto trade, and they need to step up for you,” he added.

The president gave a shout-out to Ford, GM and Stellantis for negotiating “finally in good religion. 

“And in consequence, autoworkers can be rewarded and the long-lasting Huge Three are going to nonetheless lead the world in high quality and innovation due to you,” Biden added.

Biden saved his highest reward for Fain, who’s in his first yr main the union and is now sporting a beard after the 46-day strike.

“The very fact is, this begins on the high, although, with Shawn Fain. Shawn, you’ve finished one hell of a job, pal,” Biden stated. “After I referred to as Shawn to congratulate him on this historic offers with the Huge Three automakers, he stated the credit score goes to all of you — all of you on the market, and it does. And it could be true, however it doesn’t harm to have a pacesetter with a spine like a ramrod, and that’s Shawn.”

When working folks stand united, there is not a factor they cannot get finished.

Shawn is aware of that in his bones. pic.twitter.com/uWZiJN6WD5

— President Biden (@POTUS) November 10, 2023

In his speech, Fain declared that it was “an excellent day to be in Belvidere.”

“After I got here into workplace simply seven months in the past, no one thought we may accomplish what we’ve achieved,” he stated.

Biden stated he and the union head have an analogous outlook on the economic system.

“I don’t have a look at the economic system by way of the eyes of Wall Avenue or Park Avenue.  I have a look at it by way of the eyes of the folks I grew up with in Scranton, Pa., and Claymont, Del.,” Biden stated. “My guess is that’s how Shawn seems at it, too — the folks he grew up with in Kokomo, [Ind.].”  

And Fain and Biden did hit on related themes of their remarks.

“All through this marketing campaign, we’ve talked loads about saving the American Dream. It’s not only a slogan. For 40 years, our nation’s been going backwards. The working class retains getting left behind, whereas the billionaires strip our communities for components. And there’s just one factor that may cease that: It’s us.”

It’s been a giant yr for organized labor, with unions successful large concessions from UPS, Kaiser Permanente and main Las Vegas resort firms. Biden stated that the brand new UAW contracts can have a ripple impact for all employees.

“Look, of us, these offers are gamechangers not just for UAW employees however for all employees in America.  Simply ask the oldsters at Toyota, which final week introduced that it might considerably, lastly improve wages for his or her employees,” Biden stated.

On the heels of the union’s large wins in opposition to the Detroit Three, Fain instructed employees in a Wednesday livestream that the UAW is able to go on offense and unionize different automakers, like Honda, Subaru, Hyundai and Toyota.

“Organizing and contracts go hand in hand,” Fain stated on Thursday. “And now we arrange like hell.”

Biden praised officers on the occasion, together with Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, for working “so darn exhausting to get jobs again right here in Belvidere.”

UAW president says Trump go to to non-union Michigan firm is a ‘pathetic irony’

And Biden did take a swipe at former President Donald Trump, who’s main the 2024 GOP presidential subject. In September, Trump gave a speech to non-union auto provider in Macomb County, Mich., whereas the strike was on, however he didn’t go to a UAW picket line.

“When my predecessor was in workplace, six factories closed throughout the nation.  Tens of hundreds of auto jobs have been misplaced nationwide. And, on high of that, he was prepared to cede the way forward for electrical autos to China,” Biden stated. “He stated if America invested in electrical autos, it might drive down wages. It could destroy jobs. It could spell the top of the American vehicle trade. Effectively, like virtually every thing else he stated, he was incorrect.  And also you … have proved him incorrect.”

There was a second of levity in the course of Biden’s speech when he paused after an viewers member fell down.

 After asking if the particular person was OK, Biden turned to the viewers and cracked a joke alluding to criticism of his age.  

“I need the press to know that wasn’t me,” Biden stated to laughter and applause.