Written by Rabab Fathi

Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 01:57 PM

British newspaper “The Independent” said the strike by garth workers in the United States represents a test of US President Joe Biden’s goals in supporting unions and climate change.

The newspaper explained that two of Biden’s most important goals — fighting climate change and expanding the middle class by supporting unions — collide in the state of Michigan, which represents a major battleground where auto union workers have launched strikes against major auto companies. in the country.

About 13,000 workers have participated in the strike so far, less than a tenth of the union’s total membership, but the newspaper said it was a severe test of Biden’s ability to build an expansive and fractious political coalition while running for re-election.

Biden is trying to spur the electric car market to cut greenhouse gas emissions and prevent China from tightening its grip on the booming industry. His signature legislation, known as the De-Inflation Act, includes billions of dollars in incentives to get more clean cars on the road.

However, some in the UAW fear the change could lead to job losses because fewer people are needed to assemble electric cars. While there will be new opportunities in high-capacity battery production, there’s no guarantee these plants will coalesce, and they’re often planned in states hostile to organized labor.

“The president is in a very difficult position,” said Eric Gordon, a professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. “It’s a magic wand that he should always be a pro-labor president and a green president.”