The influential American auto union UAW called on Wednesday to vote for President Joe Biden in November, a welcome endorsement from the 81-year-old Democrat over his Republican rival Donald Trump.
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“Our support is deserved. Joe Biden deserves it,” said Shawn Fain, president of the union.
Concluding his powerful speech, which was peppered with attacks on the former Republican president, he said: “The UAW calls for a vote for Joe Biden for President of the United States.”
“I kept my promise to be the most pro-union president. I am proud of your support. (…) You have mine,” responded the American president, who wore an organizational cap at the beginning of his speech.
“We are going to put up a big fight. “We will fundamentally change the economy of this country,” promised the Democrat, visibly supported by the enthusiasm of the audience.
Joe Biden said he wants to “transform an economy that protects those at the top into one that gives those who built this country a real chance of survival,” he said.
He accused his predecessor of “cutting taxes for the super-rich and corporations,” “moving good jobs abroad” and “cutting back investments.”
Donald Trump, the big favorite in the race for the Republican nomination, “doesn’t care about the workers,” in turn accused the head of the labor organization, while the audience booed this mention of the former president.
“Donald Trump is a strikebreaker (derogatory term for strikebreaker). Donald Trump is a billionaire and he represents them,” he claimed.
Shawn Fain recalled that last year, with megaphone in hand, Joe Biden became the first American president in history to stand on a picket line.
“He heard our call, he stepped forward, he came,” explained the trade unionist.
The Democrat had joined workers at a factory near Detroit, Michigan, a state that will play a big role in the presidential election.
The UAW then launched a strike against the three largest American manufacturers: General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, owner of the Chrysler brand.
The mobilization led to salary increases.
“In November we can stand up and elect someone who will stand with us and support our cause. Or we can vote for someone who will divide us and oppose us,” said Shawn Fain.
In both 2016 and 2020, Donald Trump won a large majority of the vote of the white working electorate, which has generally voted right-wing since the mid-1960s.
However, Joe Biden did better with this electorate in his fight against Donald Trump four years ago than Hillary Clinton did in 2016.
This time, he hopes to maintain or even slightly increase that vote pool, which could prove crucial in certain contested constituencies.