The UAW and Politics.

Shawn Fain, president of the UAW, appeared on a Sunday news program to praise Joe Biden for his support of auto workers.  He cited the reopening of GM’s old Lordstown plant which was closed in 2018.  

However, the plant was purchased by a new company, Lordstown Motors in 2019 under Trump’s term in office.  The plant was reopened and now makes EV batteries.  Fain seems to have a faulty memory.

Fain also took the occasion to criticize Donald Trump with no specifics.  He confirmed the UAW’s endorsement of Kamala Harris saying there are a “whole host of factors” for the decision.  Pretty weak. 

And he ignores the fact that worker’s real wages have been reduced by over 10% under Biden-Harris.

I have previously established that Cogport does not support either the Democrat or Republican Party.  So, I provide an objective response below.

People tend to have short memories.  In the interest of fairness, here is a reminder of Trump’s support for the auto industry during his term.

Donald Trump made efforts to prevent the closure or off-shoring of auto plants. Some notable instances include:

1.      General Motors (GM) and Lordstown Plant: In 2018, GM announced plans to close several plants, including the Lordstown Assembly Plant in Ohio. Trump publicly criticized GM's decision and pressured the company to keep the plant open. Although GM proceeded with the closure, the plant was later sold to Lordstown Motors, an electric vehicle startup, which planned to use the facility for electric truck production.

2.      Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA): Trump highlighted FCA's announcement in 2018 to shift production of its Ram Heavy Duty trucks from Mexico to Michigan. The company committed to investing $1 billion in its Warren Truck Assembly Plant, creating new jobs and expanding U.S. production.

3.      Ford Motor Company: Trump pressured Ford to keep production in the United States. In 2017, Ford canceled plans to build a new plant in Mexico and instead decided to invest $700 million in its Flat Rock, Michigan, plant to produce electric and autonomous vehicles.

4.      U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA): The renegotiated trade deal included provisions aimed at boosting U.S. auto production and jobs, such as requiring higher North American content in vehicles and mandating that a percentage of production be done by workers earning at least $16 per hour. These measures were designed to incentivize automakers to keep more production in the U.S.

Let’s give credit where credit is due.  The facts tend to bring the truth to light.

David Hollaender

August 4, 2024

Cogport,com