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UAW’s Biden endorsement ignites internal debate on Gaza ceasefire

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Intercept
25 Jan 2024 15:15
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Members of the United Auto Workers argue that there is a discrepancy between the union's support for Biden and its appeal for a halt to the Israeli aggression on Gaza.

The United Auto Workers, one of the US’s largest labor unions, has come out in support of a ceasefire Gaza on December 2023. (AP)

The United Auto Workers officially backed President Joe Biden for his 2024 reelection bid, sparking objections from union members who contend that the president's stance on "Israel" contradicts the union's plea for a Gaza ceasefire, The Intercept reported.

UAW President Shawn Fain announced the endorsement during the union's national community action program conference in Washington DC, coinciding with President Biden's address on Wednesday afternoon. The endorsement was accompanied by a brief interruption as UAW members interjected, advocating for a ceasefire.

Joe Biden was interrupted by UAW members as he accepted an endorsement from the union.

"Ceasefire now!" they chanted, before quickly being escorted out.

(The UAW has called for a ceasefire. Last week, the Biden administration suggested a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas). pic.twitter.com/hPuLzHmgSy
— Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) January 24, 2024

Johannah King-Slutzky, a UAW member involved in the disruption, expressed the view that there is a discordance between the endorsement and the principles championed by Fain, which have served as inspiration for workers.

“I think this is a situation where we need to push them to live up to their own principles that are what we’re inspired by. You know, Shawn Fain is the one who said ‘You got to earn our endorsement.’ A president who supports genocide and is actively sending funds and weapons to Israel to kill children, families, that’s not something that I feel has earned my endorsement,” he tersely stated.

The UAW, with a membership of 400,000 active workers and over 580,000 retired members, has become the largest union to advocate for a Gaza ceasefire in the US.

The big picture

Members of UAW Labor for Palestine, a grassroots faction within the union, orchestrated the movement, urging union leadership to endorse political candidates exclusively if they publicly advocate for a Gaza ceasefire, and to cast votes accordingly. The UAW International Union had previously endorsed a Gaza ceasefire in December, and Fain, the UAW President, participated in a gathering of legislators outside the Capitol last month, advocating for a similar ceasefire.

Fain has consistently addressed the call for peace in Gaza, making statements as recently as Tuesday. During the conference, he emphasized, “We don’t stop our fight for justice because it’s not the right time. When and where there’s a war, whether it’s in Vietnam or Gaza, we call for peace.” Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Fain expressed that he believed the protesters were exercising their democratic rights and reiterated the union's stance in favor of a ceasefire.

Certain UAW members argue that the endorsement undermines the union's ability to exert pressure on the president, given that his administration has consistently opposed appeals for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Since October 7, US President Joe Biden has taken unilateral action twice, bypassing Congress, to authorize the shipment of weapons to "Israel". Additionally, he has sought approval from lawmakers for a $14 billion supplemental aid package for the country. It's worth noting that numerous US weapons are manufactured in unionized factories, including some that employ UAW workers.

“Our union can take a strong stance to say — like unionists all over the world have, and as happened in South Africa — that they will not make weapons that will be sent to Israel,” expressed Mary Jirmanus Saba, a UAW member, whose partner lost nine family members in Gaza while seeking shelter in a church.

Last year, Fain declared that the UAW would not endorse Biden until concerns regarding the auto industry's shift to all-electric vehicles were addressed. Subsequently, Fain emphasized the need for "action, not words" from Biden to secure the union's endorsement. In a noteworthy move, Biden, in September, became the first president to join workers on the picket line during stand-up strikes against the Big Three automakers.

When announcing the endorsement, Fain drew a comparison between Biden and former President Donald Trump's labor records, highlighting Trump's favorable stance towards corporate America. He asserted, "The decision is clear: Joe Biden placed his bet on the American worker, while Donald Trump held the American worker responsible. If our endorsement is to be earned, Joe Biden has indeed earned it."