It only took a few hours for the President to answer the call – and agree to join picketers on the sidewalks of Michigan, potentially making history.
"The fact of the matter is that you guys, the UAW, saved the auto industry back in 2008 and before. You made a lot of sacrifices and gave up a lot - the companies were in trouble. But now they’re doing incredibly well and guess what? You should be doing incredibly well too," he said. "You deserve the significant raise you need and the benefits. It’s about time for them to step up for us.
He shook hands with Fain first before moving down the line to meet with the Michigan Democrats. After a few minutes of hellos, Fain and Biden entered the Presidential limousine while Dingell, Tlaib, Thanedar, and Gilchrist walked away.Experts in presidential and U.S. labor history say they cannot recall an instance when a sitting president has joined an ongoing strike, even during the tenures of the more ardent pro-union presidents such as Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry Truman.