Donald Trump calls on auto workers union to make ending EV mandates priority in high-stakes negotiations
US auto industry 'will cease to exist' under electric vehicle mandates, Trump says
Thomas Catenacci By Thomas Catenacci Fox News
Published September 14, 2023 3:19pm EDT
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Ford CEO optimistic about reaching new deal with UAW employeesVideo
Ford CEO optimistic about reaching new deal with UAW employees
Ford Motor Company President and CEO Jim Farley discusses the Sept. 14 deadline for United Auto Workers.
Former President Donald Trump is calling for the United Auto Workers (UAW), the nation's leading auto union, to make opposing electric vehicle (EV) mandates a key priority in ongoing labor negotiations.
Trump said repealing EV mandates should be the UAW's top, non-negotiable demand and that such policies would destroy the U.S. auto industry. Trump shared the statement with progressive nonprofit More Perfect Union, which is collecting lawmaker responses to the labor talks.
Trump's comments come amid a looming autoworker strike that experts say could devastate the economy.
"The best interests of American workers have always been my number one concern," Trump said in his statement to More Perfect Union. "That is why I strongly urge the U.A.W. to make the complete and total repeal of Joe Biden’s insane Electric Vehicle mandate their top, non-negotiable demand in any strike.
REPUBLICANS TO FORCE FLOOR VOTE REVERSING CALIFORNIA'S ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANDATE
Former President Donald Trump clapping
Former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters at a rally to support local candidates Sept. 3, 2022, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
"If that disastrous Biden policy is allowed to stand, the U.S. auto industry will cease to exist, and all your jobs will be sent to China," he added. "That’s why there’s no such thing as a ‘fair transition’ to all electric cars. For the American Autoworker, that’s a transition to Hell. Nothing is more important than terminating this job-crushing mandate."
The former president added that President Biden sold autoworkers out to "appease the environmental extremists in his party."
"Do not surrender! Stand strong against Biden’s vicious attack on American Labor and American Autoworkers," Trump said. "And if you want more jobs, higher wages, and soaring pensions, vote for President Trump and have your leaders endorse me. If they don't, drop out of the Union and start a new one that's going to protect your interests right. I delivered for you before, and I will deliver for you again."
Trump and an assembly line
Former President Donald Trump spoke out about ongoing United Auto Workers contract talks. (Getty Images)
The UAW is threatening to hold strikes at each of the three major U.S. automakers — General Motors, Ford and Stellantis — if new contracts aren't agreed upon by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. Such an action would represent the union's first-ever strike at all three automakers simultaneously.
MORE THAN 150 REPUBLICANS UNITE TO CONDEMN BIDEN'S 'ILL-CONSIDERED' ELECTRIC VEHICLE PUSH
According to UAW President Shawn Fain, the strike would initially be targeted at a few factories. However, he has said at some point all 146,000 UAW members could walk out of their jobs if negotiations don't progress.
"If the companies continue to bargain in bad faith or continue to stall or continue to give us insulting offers, then our strike is going to continue to grow," Fain said in a video message to UAW members Wednesday.
President Joe Biden Electric Vehicles
President Biden makes his entrance Nov. 17, 2021, at General Motors' Factory Zero electric vehicle assembly plant in Detroit. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
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As of the recording of the message, the UAW and automakers appeared to be far apart on key contract details, though both sides had made compromises to move closer.
While the union originally began negotiations asking for 40% raises over four years, it has since lowered that request to 36%. The UAW is also asking for the reinstatement of cost-of-living pay raises, a 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay, the restoration of traditional defined-benefit pensions for new hires and pension increases for retirees.
UAW strike countdown: Union president says targeted strike possible at all Big Three automakers
UAW strike countdown: Union president says targeted strike possible at all Big Three automakers
For the first time in our history, we may strike all of the Big Three at once,’ UAW Shawn Fain says
United Auto Workers members, seen here marching in the Detroit Labor Day Parade on Sept. 4, could strike soon. GETTY IMAGES
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain said Wednesday that autoworkers and the Big Three automakers are still far apart as negotiations continue, and that the union may strike all of the Big Three at once.
“We’re keeping all of our options open. An all-out strike is still a possibility,” Fain said during a webcast with members, during which he also said the union will not be extending the contracts, which expire at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Thursday.
The UAW and Ford Motor Co. F, -0.16%, General Motors Co. GM, and Stellantis NV STLA, -0.58% have made progress during their talks but were still far apart on the union’s key priorities, though negotiations are ongoing, Fain said.
“For the first time in our history, we may strike all of the Big Three at once,” Fain said, adding that he looked at this time as “our defining moment.”
He said if no deal is reached, the union plans to do “standup strikes” at certain plants, which he said is designed to keep the companies guessing. These could escalate and spread elsewhere in order to give the union leverage in bargaining. He told UAW members that they should not strike unless their local is called to do so.
A targeted strike helps the UAW avoid distributing strike pay, set recently at $500 a week per member, to all 150,000 of its members. But it could have a broader effect.
Advertisement
“It is possible for strikes at critical parts plants to have much wider implications,” Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, said in an interview with MarketWatch on Wednesday.
He noted that the 1998 strike against GM, a work stoppage by 9,200 workers at two of that company’s plants in Flint, Mich., resulted in shutdowns that affected more than 150,000 workers.
See: These Ford, GM plants are the most likely strike targets
Jody Calemine, a senior fellow and director of labor and employment policy at the Century Foundation, a progressive think tank, said Wednesday that the union is employing an interesting strategy.
“It will turn the screws slowly and probe for weaknesses, and try to get as much movement out of companies as possible while keeping the options to escalate,” he said.
Calemine said Fain has done a “masterful job” of painting the fight as a “real showdown” between working families and the companies. On Wednesday, Fain said the union has been accused of “class warfare,” but that “the billionaire class has been taking everything” for the last 40 years.
Advertisement
But Calemine added that “the principal danger for the union would be losing the narrative. Other places would continue to work, or get laid off or locked out.”
That’s reflected in some of the online comments by UAW members who watched Fain’s update. One worker said on Facebook: “Strike us all or none at all.”
The UAW president quoted scripture, repeated his calls for unity and said the “strike plan is driven by faith that together we can and will move mountains.”
Fain said the companies have revised some of their offers: On wages, Ford has put forward a 20% increase over the life of the four-year contract, up from its previous offer of 9%, while GM’s latest offer is 18% and Stellantis’s offer is 17.5%. That’s compared to a wage increase of 40% — or 46% when compounded annually — that the union sought originally and later revised to 36%.
“Their proposals don’t reflect the massive profits that we’ve generated for these companies,” Fain said.
Advertisement
The union has pointed out that while the Big Three’s profit has risen 65% over the past four years, and the pay of each of the companies’ chief executives have risen 40%, the UAW top wage rate has risen 6% over that time.
See: Why United Auto Workers are fighting to end a two-tier system for wages and benefits
A GM spokesperson said Wednesday that the company continues to bargain in good faith and sent a statement that reads in part: “We are making progress in key areas that we believe are most important to our represented team members. This includes historic guaranteed annual wage increases, investments in our U.S. manufacturing plants to provide opportunities for all, and shortening the time for in-progression employees to reach maximum wages.”
A spokesperson for Stellantis said the company is still waiting for the UAW’s response to its latest offer. “Our focus remains on bargaining in good faith to have a tentative agreement on the table before the collective bargaining agreement expires,” the spokesperson said.
Ford did not immediately return a request for comment.
The most recent U.S. autoworkers’ strike was at GM in 2019, which lasted for nearly six weeks and involved about 50,000 workers.
See: Would a United Auto Workers strike provide an opportunity for Tesla — and push up used-car prices?
I keep rolling my courser over the two places where the word ""car"" is in the post, and it DOES NOT have any type of ""OVERLAY IMAGE"", so this has to be something to do with YOUR COMPUTER, and not at all the post by Trump....
That was supposed to be a car 🚗 emoji but didn't load properly
Ah, now that makes sense.
Yeah
Donald Trump calls on auto workers union to make ending EV mandates priority in high-stakes negotiations US auto industry 'will cease to exist' under electric vehicle mandates, Trump says Thomas Catenacci By Thomas Catenacci Fox News Published September 14, 2023 3:19pm EDT l Ford CEO optimistic about reaching new deal with UAW employeesVideo Ford CEO optimistic about reaching new deal with UAW employees Ford Motor Company President and CEO Jim Farley discusses the Sept. 14 deadline for United Auto Workers.
Former President Donald Trump is calling for the United Auto Workers (UAW), the nation's leading auto union, to make opposing electric vehicle (EV) mandates a key priority in ongoing labor negotiations.
Trump said repealing EV mandates should be the UAW's top, non-negotiable demand and that such policies would destroy the U.S. auto industry. Trump shared the statement with progressive nonprofit More Perfect Union, which is collecting lawmaker responses to the labor talks.
Trump's comments come amid a looming autoworker strike that experts say could devastate the economy.
"The best interests of American workers have always been my number one concern," Trump said in his statement to More Perfect Union. "That is why I strongly urge the U.A.W. to make the complete and total repeal of Joe Biden’s insane Electric Vehicle mandate their top, non-negotiable demand in any strike.
REPUBLICANS TO FORCE FLOOR VOTE REVERSING CALIFORNIA'S ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANDATE
Former President Donald Trump clapping Former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters at a rally to support local candidates Sept. 3, 2022, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
"If that disastrous Biden policy is allowed to stand, the U.S. auto industry will cease to exist, and all your jobs will be sent to China," he added. "That’s why there’s no such thing as a ‘fair transition’ to all electric cars. For the American Autoworker, that’s a transition to Hell. Nothing is more important than terminating this job-crushing mandate."
The former president added that President Biden sold autoworkers out to "appease the environmental extremists in his party."
"Do not surrender! Stand strong against Biden’s vicious attack on American Labor and American Autoworkers," Trump said. "And if you want more jobs, higher wages, and soaring pensions, vote for President Trump and have your leaders endorse me. If they don't, drop out of the Union and start a new one that's going to protect your interests right. I delivered for you before, and I will deliver for you again."
Trump and an assembly line Former President Donald Trump spoke out about ongoing United Auto Workers contract talks. (Getty Images)
The UAW is threatening to hold strikes at each of the three major U.S. automakers — General Motors, Ford and Stellantis — if new contracts aren't agreed upon by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. Such an action would represent the union's first-ever strike at all three automakers simultaneously.
MORE THAN 150 REPUBLICANS UNITE TO CONDEMN BIDEN'S 'ILL-CONSIDERED' ELECTRIC VEHICLE PUSH
According to UAW President Shawn Fain, the strike would initially be targeted at a few factories. However, he has said at some point all 146,000 UAW members could walk out of their jobs if negotiations don't progress.
"If the companies continue to bargain in bad faith or continue to stall or continue to give us insulting offers, then our strike is going to continue to grow," Fain said in a video message to UAW members Wednesday.
President Joe Biden Electric Vehicles President Biden makes his entrance Nov. 17, 2021, at General Motors' Factory Zero electric vehicle assembly plant in Detroit. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
As of the recording of the message, the UAW and automakers appeared to be far apart on key contract details, though both sides had made compromises to move closer.
While the union originally began negotiations asking for 40% raises over four years, it has since lowered that request to 36%. The UAW is also asking for the reinstatement of cost-of-living pay raises, a 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay, the restoration of traditional defined-benefit pensions for new hires and pension increases for retirees.
UAW strike countdown: Union president says targeted strike possible at all Big Three automakers
UAW strike countdown: Union president says targeted strike possible at all Big Three automakers For the first time in our history, we may strike all of the Big Three at once,’ UAW Shawn Fain says
United Auto Workers members, seen here marching in the Detroit Labor Day Parade on Sept. 4, could strike soon. GETTY IMAGES
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain said Wednesday that autoworkers and the Big Three automakers are still far apart as negotiations continue, and that the union may strike all of the Big Three at once.
“We’re keeping all of our options open. An all-out strike is still a possibility,” Fain said during a webcast with members, during which he also said the union will not be extending the contracts, which expire at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Thursday.
The UAW and Ford Motor Co. F, -0.16%, General Motors Co. GM, and Stellantis NV STLA, -0.58% have made progress during their talks but were still far apart on the union’s key priorities, though negotiations are ongoing, Fain said.
“For the first time in our history, we may strike all of the Big Three at once,” Fain said, adding that he looked at this time as “our defining moment.”
He said if no deal is reached, the union plans to do “standup strikes” at certain plants, which he said is designed to keep the companies guessing. These could escalate and spread elsewhere in order to give the union leverage in bargaining. He told UAW members that they should not strike unless their local is called to do so.
A targeted strike helps the UAW avoid distributing strike pay, set recently at $500 a week per member, to all 150,000 of its members. But it could have a broader effect.
Advertisement “It is possible for strikes at critical parts plants to have much wider implications,” Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, said in an interview with MarketWatch on Wednesday.
He noted that the 1998 strike against GM, a work stoppage by 9,200 workers at two of that company’s plants in Flint, Mich., resulted in shutdowns that affected more than 150,000 workers.
See: These Ford, GM plants are the most likely strike targets
Jody Calemine, a senior fellow and director of labor and employment policy at the Century Foundation, a progressive think tank, said Wednesday that the union is employing an interesting strategy.
“It will turn the screws slowly and probe for weaknesses, and try to get as much movement out of companies as possible while keeping the options to escalate,” he said.
Calemine said Fain has done a “masterful job” of painting the fight as a “real showdown” between working families and the companies. On Wednesday, Fain said the union has been accused of “class warfare,” but that “the billionaire class has been taking everything” for the last 40 years.
Advertisement But Calemine added that “the principal danger for the union would be losing the narrative. Other places would continue to work, or get laid off or locked out.”
That’s reflected in some of the online comments by UAW members who watched Fain’s update. One worker said on Facebook: “Strike us all or none at all.”
The UAW president quoted scripture, repeated his calls for unity and said the “strike plan is driven by faith that together we can and will move mountains.”
Fain said the companies have revised some of their offers: On wages, Ford has put forward a 20% increase over the life of the four-year contract, up from its previous offer of 9%, while GM’s latest offer is 18% and Stellantis’s offer is 17.5%. That’s compared to a wage increase of 40% — or 46% when compounded annually — that the union sought originally and later revised to 36%.
“Their proposals don’t reflect the massive profits that we’ve generated for these companies,” Fain said.
Advertisement The union has pointed out that while the Big Three’s profit has risen 65% over the past four years, and the pay of each of the companies’ chief executives have risen 40%, the UAW top wage rate has risen 6% over that time.
See: Why United Auto Workers are fighting to end a two-tier system for wages and benefits
A GM spokesperson said Wednesday that the company continues to bargain in good faith and sent a statement that reads in part: “We are making progress in key areas that we believe are most important to our represented team members. This includes historic guaranteed annual wage increases, investments in our U.S. manufacturing plants to provide opportunities for all, and shortening the time for in-progression employees to reach maximum wages.”
A spokesperson for Stellantis said the company is still waiting for the UAW’s response to its latest offer. “Our focus remains on bargaining in good faith to have a tentative agreement on the table before the collective bargaining agreement expires,” the spokesperson said.
Ford did not immediately return a request for comment.
The most recent U.S. autoworkers’ strike was at GM in 2019, which lasted for nearly six weeks and involved about 50,000 workers.
See: Would a United Auto Workers strike provide an opportunity for Tesla — and push up used-car prices?
WELL FOLKS, ONCE AGAIN DJT AKA 45 TELLS THE TRUTH! CAN "U" HANDLE THE TRUTH???
ONE WONDERS!
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/111068622470959656
zooming in it says OBJ ... @PeaceAndLovePatriot's comment is correct
Object files can be in ASCII format (.obj) or binary format (.mod)
Perhaps the object did not load properly.
""The word "car" has an overlay image.""
Where Exactly???
I keep rolling my courser over the two places where the word ""car"" is in the post, and it DOES NOT have any type of ""OVERLAY IMAGE"", so this has to be something to do with YOUR COMPUTER, and not at all the post by Trump....
It's on the very first line.
Sorry, but It doesn't show on my comp....