Biden Flip-Flops on Decision To Send Officials To Meet With Striking Auto Workers

The White House has canceled plans to send two key officials to Detroit, Michigan, this week, in a bid to support negotiations between car companies and United Auto Workers (UAW), according to NBC News.

Last week, President Joe Biden announced that his administration would be sending White House senior adviser Gene Sperling and acting Labor Secretary Julie Su to Detroit to help resolve the UAW strike.

However, the White House told NBC News on Tuesday that they had canceled the trip after both parties agreed they should speak virtually over the video-call platform Zoom.

The White House is reportedly still working on plans to send Sperling and Su at a later date, although no official plans have been made. 

“Acting Secretary Su and Gene Sperling have consistently engaged with the parties on the state of negotiations,” a White House official told CNN. “Given that negotiations are ongoing between the negotiating parties, it is most productive for Sperling and Su to continue their discussions from Washington and allow talks to move forward, and we’ll continue to assess travel timing based on the active state of negotiations.”

On Thursday, UAW announced that it was launching a strike against three of Detroit’s biggest automakers: Ford, General Motors and Stellantis (which makes Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and other automobile brands). The union is pushing for a 46% wage increase as well as a shortened work week.

Since the announcement of the strike, Biden has come under fire for his handling of the situation, with some UAW members saying they want him replaced on the 2024 ticket. 

Although Biden’s handling has been negative, former President Trump chose to skip the Sept. 27 GOP presidential debate, and instead travel to Detroit to speak with current and former UAW members. 

The president of the UAW, Shawn Fain, told NBC News: “This battle is not about the president. It’s not about the former president or any other person prior to that. This battle is about the workers standing up for economic and social justice and getting their fair share because they’re fed up with going backwards.”