United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain met with the union’s executive board late Thursday to discuss his deep concerns regarding President Joe Biden’s ability to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming November election, according to three familiar sources. The nearly 400,000-member union endorsed Biden in January and is crucial in key swing states like Michigan.
Fain called the meeting to explore the union’s options and address the concerns of top officials. Both Biden and Trump have made several appearances in Michigan to garner support, especially from those employed by major automakers like Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. Despite the union’s endorsement, Fain’s apprehensions reflect growing unease within the UAW about Biden’s re-election prospects.
The UAW, an essential ally of Biden, is considering its next steps amid the president’s campaign struggles.
Earlier, Biden met with the executive council of the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of U.S. trade unions, to reinforce labor union support. Fain attended this meeting, where Biden expressed his appreciation for the union leaders’ support and outlined his future plans, aiming to dispel doubts about his re-election campaign.
Fain had backed Biden after the president joined a union picket line during a six-week autoworkers strike last year. This resulted in significant wage increases for Detroit’s Big Three automakers. This marked the first time a U.S. president had walked with striking workers. Biden also acknowledged Fain during this year’s State of the Union address.
Biden has portrayed himself as the most pro-union president in U.S. history, recently relying on key labor leaders to bolster support among his base. However, his re-election campaign faces increasing scrutiny following a lackluster debate that raised questions about his mental fitness. Calls for Biden to step aside have grown, with at least 12 Democratic members of Congress urging him to end his re-election bid.
