The United Auto Workers (UAW) labor union has endorsed Kamala Harris for U.S. President. The UAW previously endorsed President Biden for reelection prior to Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race on July 21st. Harris is the only Democratic presidential candidate under consideration as the party heads into an official nomination vote.
UAW President Shawn Fain
Per a report from Automotive News, UAW President Shawn Fain spoke with Kamala Harris by phone last week, stating that the vice president had a record “of delivering for the working class,” going on to state that Harris “will stand shoulder to shoulder with us in our war on corporate greed.”
Back in January, the UAW endorsed President Biden for election, but according to a report from Reuters, the UAW executive board met previously to discuss concerns over Biden’s ability to defeat Donald Trump in November. A large number of UAW members live in Michigan, a critical battleground state where both Biden and Trump have made campaign appearances in the past.
The relationship between UAW President Fain and Republican nominee Trump has been highly contentious, with Fain saying during a conference in July that “it’s clear that Donald Trump in the White House would be a complete disaster for the working class.” During the recent Republican National Convention, Trump said that Fain should be “fired immediately,” criticizing the union for failing to stop Chinese automakers from building factories in Mexico to sell vehicles in the U.S.
By contrast, the UAW has historically had a far better relationship with the Democratic Party. During the union’s strike in 2023, Biden became the first sitting president to walk a picket line after he joined GM workers in Michigan amid a union walkout. The strike resulted in significantly improved labor contracts, including a 25-percent wage increase.
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