UAW President Shawn Fain has issued a statement addressing the results of the 2024 U.S. election, calling on union members to continue the fight against “unchecked corporate greed.” Fain and the UAW formerly endorsed Kamala Harris for U.S. President late in July following President Biden’s withdrawal. With Trump heading back to the White House for a second term, the auto industry is bracing for a possible whirlwind of policy changes.
“UAW members around the country clocked in today under the same threat they faced yesterday: unchecked corporate greed destroying our lives, our families, and our communities,” Fain stated. The UAW President went on to call out Stellantis, Mack Truck, and John Deere for “shipping jobs overseas to boost shareholder profits,” while calling on “Washington, DC to put up or shut up, no matter the party, no matter the candidate.”
“Will our government stand with the working class, or keep doing the bidding of the billionaires? That’s the question we face today. And that’s the question we’ll face tomorrow,” Fain continues.
The relationship between Fain and President-elect Donald Trump has been contentious, at best. Back in July, Fain repeatedly called out Trump as “a complete disaster for the working class,” while endorsing the Democratic Party and Joe Biden.
“We’ve got a president in the White House who wants to stand with the working class and we’ve made incredible gains over the past three-and-a-half years with this president,” Fain said in July, referencing President Biden.
Now, as Donald Trump prepares for a second term in office, the U.S. auto industry is bracing for change, including the possible implementation of new tariffs on imported vehicles. Earlier last month, Trump threatened a 200-percent tariff on Mexican-built vehicles if elected. GM imports roughly 60,000 to 70,000 vehicles from Mexico to the U.S. annually, with major production facilities in Ramos Arizpe, Silao, and San Luis Potosi.
It’s also possible Trump will change the tariff structure related to imported vehicle components, as well as target federal EV tax credits, calling the EV transition a “hit job” on Michigan last year. That said, Trump may also shift his position on EVs following major backing from Tesla CEO Elon Musk during his bid for reelection.
Comments
If the UAW were smart they would get rid of this guy. Get someone who is less connected to the Democrat machine and more in line with the workers and reality.
The UAW should remember which party signed NAFTA, and which party is talking tariffs.
At minimum the UAW should consider a more Teamsters-style “Our endorsement needs to be EARNED” instead of giving automatic support to any party.
Are you being paid by PRC ? or would You love fighting with your NAFTA/USMCA neighbours instead of seeing the bigger picture here? which is greed by auto execs and globalization of manufacturing, which was fashion of last two decades … Where are the wiring harness and vehicle chips and electronics made ? who created chip shortage and started charging $150 for chips used to cost $0.02 before Covid? It is proven 100% certain it was not your NAFTA neighbours who are also stakeholder in the North American based Production as much as you fighting against 100% offshore productions which governments are trying to avoid by 200% Tarrif.
Who,s pocket he in?
The way Michigan got swept, Fain would be looking for a new job soon, maybe parking lot security at a union plant….
Fain, like the democrat party, is completely clueless and out of touch with what they think is their voter base and their member bases political alignments. If he had a clue, he would know that many if not most union members actually typically vote red.
I agree that Fain needs to go. His partisan comments, endorsements, and attitude only make car buyers less likely to buy a product from a UAW plant. He has totally turned me off to the UAW and I would now prefer to buy American-made but non-UAW-made products and there are plenty of excellent options.
I said earlier this year that he should refrain from endorsing political candidates because inevitably half of the voters will be turned off by it but he’s not smart enough to understand that.
Agreed. And/or he’s drunk off his own Kool-Aid and can’t see that there are plenty of non-union US-made alternatives.
Just where else could this guy earn the obscene amount of money he earns ?
Isn’t he part of the Corporate greed in a way? Surely he is paid very well for his role in pushing the strikes earlier this year.
Also odd to me that he is against the tariffs on imported vehicles. In the long run wouldn’t that potentially help the UAW by forcing manufacturers to consider building more US-based plants? And in turn employing more UAW members.
I believe Trump’s intention is to get more cars build in the US (not Mexico or Canada). Unfortunately for the UAW members, Mary’s and Fain’s collective lack of vision is going to get them built at non-union plants.
Everyone already complains about how expensive new vehicles are. Just wait until significant tariffs are implemented by the new administration. If you thought inflation was bad during the pandemic, just wait.
Meanwhile Stellantis is laying off over 1,000 UAW workers
Fain is just another guilt ridden, self loathing, leftist. We know the type well. In the neighborhood his type are mocked, laughed at, and despised.
The only thing his type is good for is a $$$ shakedown.
This guy is an unhinged idiot. Do away with him UAW. he does you more harm than good.
Sadly, most of the union sheeple march in lock step with Fain the pain.
You can’t fix STUPID!
What a fool…he didnt listen to majority of his membership..culd be the next Jimmy Hoofa?
At least Hoffa looked out for his membership. Unlike Fain, he was tough but pragmatic knowing that putting companies out of business with exorbitant demands would not benefit his membership.
If Fain is worried about jobs leaving the U.S., why would he support Harris who wants to increase the corporate tax rate vs. Trump who wants to lower it?
Trump secured the popular and electoral vote by large margin.
Fain learned nothing.
I know one thing, as a retired UAW member I voted for Fain Big mistake, he said he would do something for retirees, but did next to nothing, and then blindly endorsed the dumbacrats! If I’m still amongst the living next vote for UAW president he definitely won’t get my vote! What an idiot!
Do you people realize that the republicans do nothing good for Unions? Republican Administrations constantly: Appoint anti-Union National Labor Relations Board members and to the US Department of Labor, they promote legislation to make it more difficult to join and form Unions at the workplace, they promote anti-pension regulations and constantly attack overtime laws and prevailing wage laws and are always trying to gut OSHA just to mention a few. It’s the Democrats that work to save and salvage these laws that protect workers. So why would a National Union like the UAW and it’s President Shawn Fain support republicans?
It’s gaslighting 101. The incoming administration are experts at it.
Thats simply clown talk… your evidence? The last 4 years have destroyed American Mfg only a buffoon would not see that… get ready for massive and fantastic changes because of DJT and Team…. by the way how’s your 401k since the election… I rest my case…
Companies exist to make things and return shareholder value. PERIOD. They do not exist to employ people so this childish and tired comment about “rich corporations” is so boring. No company in their right mind has pensions, they’re unsustainable. Unions are a cancer, there is no dispute. DJT wants to make “overtime non-taxable” so get your facts straight.
The problem is we are a market economy but wages & bene’s the UAW extorts from the former Big2+ have ruined them. Labor is a cost and gm/Ford & Stellantis have dramatically higher costs, which drove them to bankruptcy and they’re on their way again. None of the transplants want the UAW (I don’t believe VW employees want them) for many reasons especially the “Us vs Them” combative relationship between the company and employees. It’s toxic and unproductive.
This last contract is tremendously expensive and is driving layoffs, etc. DJT will put tariffs on companies importing products but also wants to lower taxes. Lowering taxes gives citizens more to spend, while most companies won’t be competitive with the tariffs so they will build factories in the US and employ more citizens, giving them more to spend and increasing tax revenue. It’s a great plan. That said the Big 2+ costs are so high they will still need to automate and let “people” go, they just cost too much compared to the competition. These employees would be wise to seek nonunion employment or reinvent themselves to another career. The UAW will cause them to be unemployed. Final comment, decertify the UAW and adjust to market priced wages and benefits… it might save US owned vehicle mfg.
You are absolutely right, the comments against Shawn Fain just shows that there are a lot of people who are clueless and anti-union.
Corporate greed is supported by both parties. Both have us fighting each other to keep us from fighting them.
Wrong, its the UAW who is greedy, thus they extort companies to pay up or shut down.
You are wrong, you are obviously unaware of the compensation that GM CEO Mary Buick Envision Made in China-Barra, and Ford CEO Failure Farley receive, not to mention the compensation that Stellantis CEO Garbage Tavares (who is about to send all Chrysler products to their graves) receives.
Why do folks complain about CEO compensation? They RUN multi-billion $$ global corporations… could you? I couldn’t?? Who cares?? Jealous morons perhaps? That said Hollywood actors make more than these CEO’s… so whats your point? So a CEO makes $30M but do the math the UAW costs in excess of what, $4B? Their stock holders can get them fired so… ? Nearly impossible to fire a UAW employee… Reinvent yourself…
He reminds me of Mr. Mackey of South Park lol.
Fain is indeed an idiot.
LJ, Trump doesn’t care about American workers everything he sells is not made America. Ad he never pays people he owes.
Biden was the first president to walk a picket line during a strike. The UAW members complained that inflation is the cause of their troubles and after getting a 40% raise, vote for convicted felon who has done nothing for US workers.
The UAW members (and the tens of millions of other voters who think tariffs will bring down costs haven’t thought it through. So they honestly believe their fearless leader when he says companies will simply absorb the additional 25-100%? No wonder why he files for bankruptcy 4 times. All the money from tariffs goes to the US Treasury – doesn’t help the average worker – it just inflates the price we pay for goods.
The stock market was at record levels before the election and unemployment at 40 year levels. And the US is the largest producer of oil in the world.
So let’s blame inflation on Biden when it was the grocery stores, restaurants, and everyone else who raised their prices to stabilize their business after the pandemic. You remember the pandemic – it was the then President Trump who said in 2020: “We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China. It’s going to be just fine.”
Keep believing what he says and watch what happens.
And with child molester, Matt Gaetz as the Attorney General, what could go wrong?!?
This sh*t show is just beginning – enjoy the spiral downward!
Tarrif is nothing but additional TAX to consumers and highly fueling the inflation… and you though 2020 events were bad , wait and see what 2024 brings to us all economically.
Fain talks about corporate greed but the majority of it happened under Biden and the last 4 years! Fain mentioned John Deere, so did Trump. He warned them if they shutter American production facilities and move them to Mexico he’ll impose a 200% tariff on every piece of machinery imported to the U.S. Fain has his head up his arse.