UAW Blasts Trump-Vance: A Threat to Workers’ Rights!

This week, the United Auto Workers (UAW) renewed its critique that the GOP presidential pairing of Donald Trump and JD Vance poses a real risk to the livelihood of working-class Americans. This came after Vance, who has transitioned from venture capitalist to U.S. Senator for Ohio, hesitated to confirm whether he would uphold a $500 million federal grant aimed at transforming a Michigan plant for electric vehicle production.

Trump and Vance are both active on the campaign trail in Michigan—a pivotal battleground state—this week.

The Detroit News highlighted on Wednesday that Vance showed uncertainty regarding the allocation, which is part of a larger $1.7 billion initiative by the Biden administration. The specific $500 million grant in question is intended to convert the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant into an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub.

The UAW, which supports Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, responded sharply on Thursday, reiterating their earlier disapproval of Trump and Vance.

“Donald Trump significantly hindered job growth during his tenure in office,” stated the influential union. “His poorly executed United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement—referred to by us as ‘Trump’s NAFTA’—triggered a widespread departure of quality, blue-collar jobs from the U.S. In stark contrast, the Biden-Harris team has placed a strong wager on the American workforce, and as a result, hundreds of thousands of solid manufacturing jobs are making a comeback.”

“Now, Trump and JD Vance are encroaching on Michigan, jeopardizing the half-billion-dollar investment from the Biden-Harris administration in the General Motors Grand River Assembly Plant, and the unionized positions it would sustain,” the UAW added. “The bottom line is Trump and Vance represent a danger to the working class, continuing to promote Trump’s legacy of eroding jobs.”

The Democrats might see a favorable turn as the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that in September, the federal unemployment rate was at 4.1% and the U.S. economy added 254,000 jobs, surpassing economists’ forecasts by over 100,000.

UAW president Shawn Fain, notable for leading a significant strike against the Big Three auto manufacturers last year, is scheduled to join U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders in Michigan for weekend events supporting Harris. Their itinerary includes stops in Warren, Grand Rapids, and East Lansing to discuss topics such as the American healthcare system, combating corporate greed, and bolstering Michigan’s manufacturing sector.

Harris spent this Friday in Michigan, attending gatherings in Detroit and Flint. She was expected to engage with leaders from the Arab American community, as reported byReuters. Attendees include representatives from Emgage, a Muslim advocacy group that recently backed Harris, the American Task Force on Lebanon, and Harris’ long-time friend Hala Hijazi, who has suffered personal losses in Gaza.

However, some like Jim Zogby, founder of the Arab American Institute and a veteran Democratic National Committee member, declined the invitation. Representatives from the Uncommitted National Movement protest campaign indicated they were not invited to the meeting.