MicroWave

Biden says UAW should fight for 40% pay raise in Michigan strike visit

https://lemmy.world/post/5789896

Biden says UAW should fight for 40% pay raise in Michigan strike visit - Lemmy.world

President Joe Biden on Tuesday joined a picket line with striking autoworkers in Michigan, supporting their call for a 40% pay raise and saying they deserve a “lot more” than they are getting. Biden’s appearance, the first visit by a U.S. president to striking workers in modern history, comes a day before Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner for president, will speak to auto workers in Michigan. The rare back-to-back events highlight the importance of union support in the 2024 presidential election, even though unions represent a tiny fraction of U.S. workers. Democrat Biden traveled to a Belleville, Michigan, parts distribution center owned by General Motors (GM.N), and joined dozens of picketers outside. “Companies were in trouble, now they’re doing incredibly well. And guess what? You should be doing incredibly well, too,” Biden said through a bullhorn. “Stick with it.”

Sep 26, 2023 at 11:50pmWeb
Show threadBlackbeardSep 27, 2023

Biden: “You should get paid more.”

Trump: indicted for 91 crimes and found liable for decades of tax fraud

Michigan Republicans: ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Show threaddrewdarkoSep 27, 2023
“Both sides are the same!”
Show threadFlashMobOfOneSep 27, 2023

They are when it comes to wages.

The federal minimum wage has been 7 bucks for fifteen years.

Show threadyouguysSep 27, 2023
Democrats had it for 2 years in the past 20+ years…not the fuckin same. Republicans had it for 14 years. Anything Barack tried to do was shit on for 6 years of his presidency by Congress and his first two years he had he got a lot done, not to mention that he did actually raise the minimum wage for federal workers in in 2014 by executive order because that’s the only way anything could get changed when the dumb ass party had control. money.cnn.com/2014/02/12/news/…/index.html
Obama signs order on minimum wage

Executive order requires businesses with new or renewed federal contracts to pay minimum wage workers $10.10 an hour starting in 2015.

CNNMoney
Show threadpaultimate14Sep 28, 2023
Democrats only had it for ~4 months. 11 weeks of in-session Congress time.
Show threadyouguysSep 28, 2023

I believe you, and I kinda remember that tbh but I’m having a hard time finding info on it.

spokesman.com/…/control-house-and-senate-1900/

Here’s where I got my information

Control of House and Senate since 1900

Will the Republicans retain control of the Senate after Election Day in November? Or will Democrats wrestle it away from them and run both chambers on Capitol Hill? It’s way too early to say. Here’s how control of the House and Senate have shifted over the past 120 years:

The Spokesman-Review
Show threadpaultimate14Sep 28, 2023

sandiegofreepress.org/…/the-myth-of-the-filibuste…

A lot of datasets looking at Congress over time smooth over small nuances. They look at the bi-annual election results and assume that’s what holds until the next election. The problem for answering a question like this is that Congress changes between elections. The Democrat majority includes Arlan Spectre, who defected. Al Franken, whose election was contested and not resolved until months into his term. Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd were ancient and in the process of dying (perfectly fair to blame the party for letting them cling to office too long. Some things never change). The article doesn’t mention it, but I think that 60 senators includes one or two independents who caucused with the Dems too, like Bernie Sanders.

The Myth of the Filibuster-Proof Democratic Senate

Republicans have magically, mystically turned 72 days into two full years. We’ve heard it over and over and over again. Mitch McConnell has gleefully used it as a cudgel. Congressional Republicans …

San Diego Free Press
Show threadBolexForSoupSep 27, 2023

I’m sorry guaranteeing healthcare for tens of millions of Americans with the 2 years they had government control wasn’t enough for you.

Both parties would’ve removed Roe as well, right?

Remind me: which party assaulted the Capitol and tried to overturn our election?

You’re right both are the same.

Show threadqueermunist she/herSep 27, 2023

I’m sorry guaranteeing healthcare for tens of millions of Americans with the 2 years they had government control wasn’t enough for you.

… is it enough for you?

Show threadBolexForSoupSep 27, 2023
Yes. The HCA was what I had when I nearly died when someone was texting and driving and careened into my car. A year prior I had no health insurance.
Show threadqueermunist she/herSep 27, 2023
The HCA is a private for profit insurance company.
Show threadBolexForSoupSep 27, 2023
ACA*, Obamacare, I haven’t had my coffee you know what I’m talking about.
Show threadguacupadoSep 29, 2023
You’re moving the goalpost. Is it enough? No. But there’s one party where it happened and another party that literally did everything they could against it. Both parties are definitely not the same.
Show threadqueermunist she/herSep 29, 2023

I don’t think both parties are the same. I think they’re both bad and we’re fucked no matter who wins, but I can admit America will collapse slower under Democrats. I guess that’s preferable.

I’m still voting for Cornell West. Nyaa nyaa~

Show threadFraylorSep 27, 2023
Whew, good thing we are able to make such broad sweeping generalized comparisons based on a single issue.
Show threadpaultimate14Sep 27, 2023

Just going to ignore how Biden has asked Congress to legislate a higher minimum wage and issues an executive order requiring a higher minimum wage for Federal contractors?

The Democrats have only controlled Congress and the presidency at the same time for about 4 months in the past 4 decades, beginning in September 2009. Before then… idk it would have been before Reagan. When was the last time the minimum wage increased? 2009.

“Both sides are the same” is a Republican talking point.

Show threadbe_excellent_to_each_otherSep 28, 2023

#“Both sides are the same” is a Republican talking point.

Can't be said enough.

Find someone telling you how both sides suck, and then look what it's in reply to. It's always, ALWAYS to deflect from Republican shortcomings or to deflect from positive news about Democrats. A-L-W-A-Y-S.

Show threadgoldenlocksSep 29, 2023
That’s not true. Biden took away railroad worker’s right to strike. He is only pretending to support the UAW strike.
Show threadFlashMobOfOneSep 27, 2023

Biden had a majority for two years and did jack shit on pay.

Can’t really blame them for being angry.

Show threadBolexForSoupSep 27, 2023
You can’t pass a minimum wage increase with a 50-50 senate.
Show threadTrollceptionSep 28, 2023
Did he try? Not picking sides but just generally unaware.
Show threadBolexForSoupSep 28, 2023

Yes and succeeded. The only minimum raise increase in the last 25 years or so was in 2009 under Obama.

This is the stuff that drives me crazy. Why do you think he didn’t do anything? He literally oversaw the minimum wage going up. A cursory Google search for showing you this.

Show threadTheFonzSep 28, 2023
Do you guys not get any civil education on how bills get passed? Why are you commenting on political threads without a foundational understanding of how legislation works?
Show threadoatscoopSep 28, 2023

I’m writing my reps with a proposal for a new law:

One day out of every year all streaming, OTA TV, and cable companies run a 12 hour Schoolhouse Rock marathon from 8am to 8pm.

Show threadBolexForSoupSep 28, 2023
He did say he was generally unaware lol
Show threadBeelzebubbaSep 29, 2023
Thats not how laws work. Here’s a video explaining how bills become laws in the US. Educate yourself friend.
Schoolhouse Rock - I'm Just a Bill

YouTube
Show threadRagingRobotSep 27, 2023
I guess that should have been the only focus. All I remember is that before he took office we couldn’t leave our houses and people were dying from COVID like crazy. It’s not Biden’s fault that wages haven’t increased with inflation since before I was born. Sure he could probably do more but I don’t see anyone else jumping up to help in any meaningful way either. No one will even primary him and his major opponent is just litigating things from 3 years ago to save his ego and or freedom. I don’t see anyone else stepping up from a position of power.
Show threadChronosWingSep 28, 2023
A 50-50 split Senate is not a majority, jackass.
Show threadRoboticideSep 28, 2023

Our state GOP was totally hijacked by MAGA radicals and now answers to Karamo, who’s an utter nut job and die-hard Trump loyalist.

But they’ve gone so far a lot of moderate Republicans feel alienated and with our new balanced voting districts Democrats will probably secure victory for the foreseeable future. It still will be a tight race, but I would not be surprised if Biden’s margin in 2024 is bigger in Michigan than it was in 2020.

Show threaddanc4498Sep 27, 2023
I think this would mean more if he actually stood up for the railway workers during their strike.
Show threadGR_PeteSep 27, 2023
https://www.ibew.org/media-center/Articles/23Daily/2306/230620_IBEWandPaid
‘We Never Stopped Applying Pressure’: Hard-Fought Success on Rail Sick Days

After months of negotiations, the IBEW’s Railroad members at four of the largest U.S. freight carriers finally have what they’ve long sought but that many working people take for granted: paid sick days.

Show threadbdonvrSep 27, 2023

Far less than they asked for, and did nothing towards meeting their other major demands such as Precision Scheduled Railroading.

If Biden was incapable or unwilling to force the rail companies to give better terms, he should have stayed out of it.

Show threadSeedyOneSep 27, 2023
Then perhaps they shouldn’t have accepted it and striked as planned? The fact that it wasn’t “enough” for the workers isn’t on the POTUS and doesn’t negate his actions.
Show threadBarrelAgedBoredomSep 27, 2023

They kind of kick-started this years huge labor push. Sure, it was bubbling up for a while before the rail unions decided to take action but they were the first “big” players to threaten a strike in a while. It’s easy to say that from the sidelines after the fact but they were being vilified by national media 24/7 for weeks, getting a bunch of pressure from Congress and being threatened to have the book thrown at them if they decided to strike. They were early to the party and didn’t have all of it’s completely understandable.

It’s also completely valid to criticize Biden for not doing enough when it really mattered, he could’ve put more pressure on Congress, he could’ve visited the workers and given his approval. He’s clearly capable of these things when it suits his interests, why didn’t he do any of that for the rail unions? Surely they could’ve used the help. Why was “working in the background” good enough for them but all of a sudden it’s insufficient for the UAW?

Show threadrockSlayerSep 27, 2023
The labor movement is a positive feedback loop of direct action. I’m still contending with the fact that I’m a major player in the labor movement within tech, but I can trace the labor action of the last few months directly to CODE-CWA forming to help organize Google workers in 2020. Labor action fuels labor action. The ABK Workers Alliance were inspired by Paizo, who inspired Vodeo Workers United, who inspired ABKWA members to unionize at Raven into GWA, who inspired more tech unions to form, who inspired SBWU to perform militant labor actions, who inspired WGA and SAG-AFTRA (they work in the games industry).
Show threadSeedyOneSep 27, 2023
Criticism is totally fine and often deserved, I’m just saying using the rail strike (or any past Biden ball-drops) as a measuring stick for this one servers little purpose and detracts from the core issue. He should be held to task for those things when it comes election time, not fielding “but what about XYZ?” statements.
Show threadqueermunist she/herSep 27, 2023
Launching an illegal strike is far different from launching a legally protected strike. They’d have to accept the possibility that everyone loses their jobs and some people might even get taken to court. Things just aren’t that bad yet.
Show threadSeedyOneSep 27, 2023
Fair point! Thanks.
Show threadpaultimate14Sep 27, 2023

Far less than they asked for

Have you ever heard of the word “negotiation”? Why aren’t you talking about how the result was “far less than what the rail companies asked for”?

Show threadbdonvrSep 27, 2023
They got like 5 sick days out of the 15 they wanted. And zero of their other demands.
Show threadWahotsSep 27, 2023

Gotta give the president props for that, as well as democrats. Didn’t realize they got that through. I’d like them to keep pushing for a least 12 national sick days for all mid to major companies.

Would love to see some universal protections.

Show threadCryophiliaSep 29, 2023

Didn’t realize they got that through.

As always, Democrats are the WORST at PR.

Show threadEchSep 28, 2023
4 days out of the desired 15. Wow, such good. Much work. Good Biden.
Show threadgoldenlocksSep 29, 2023
https://www.reddit.com/r/railroading/comments/16sclgc/are_we_still_upset_with_biden_for_our_contracts/
Are We Still Upset With Biden For Our Contracts?

I keep seeing comments in other subs about how the rail unions are grateful for Biden's help in our negotiations and our paid sick leave...

reddit
Show threadKichaeSep 27, 2023

It would, absolutely, but it still means a whole lot.

It's a recognition by a slick, seasoned, career politician in the highest office in his country that the winds are shifting with respect to the labour movement.

Don't think of this as Biden expressing any deeply held belief. Don't think of anything he does in those terms. The Democrats in general, and Biden especially, are a mirror that reflects something meaningful about the socio-political environment.

He and his team believe that has shifted, and that labour is poised to be ok the winning side of that shift.

Show threadBolexForSoupSep 27, 2023
He did. Stop listening to hannity.
Show threadrockSlayerSep 27, 2023
Did he though? His Congress pushed through a bill with a smaller compensation package, 1(one) day of sick time, no removal of advance notice for sick time, none of the OT protections, and no acknowledgement of safety concerns.
Show threadBolexForSoupSep 27, 2023
This guys covered it
Biden says UAW should fight for 40% pay raise in Michigan strike visit - midwest.social

President Joe Biden on Tuesday joined a picket line with striking autoworkers in Michigan, supporting their call for a 40% pay raise and saying they deserve a “lot more” than they are getting. Biden’s appearance, the first visit by a U.S. president to striking workers in modern history, comes a day before Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner for president, will speak to auto workers in Michigan. The rare back-to-back events highlight the importance of union support in the 2024 presidential election, even though unions represent a tiny fraction of U.S. workers. Democrat Biden traveled to a Belleville, Michigan, parts distribution center owned by General Motors (GM.N), and joined dozens of picketers outside. “Companies were in trouble, now they’re doing incredibly well. And guess what? You should be doing incredibly well, too,” Biden said through a bullhorn. “Stick with it.”

Show threadrockSlayerSep 27, 2023
  • Fuck you for assuming I’m any kind of liberal. Especially fuck you for insinuating I’m a Republican.
  • Regardless of the RLA holding a gun to their Union’s head, they did vote to approve the Senate’s contract. I’m personally very dissatisfied with the agreement, but ultimately, their union voted to ratify the agreement. As NPR notes, the deal falls significantly short of the goals rail workers were fighting for. They decided to accept it, in the face of a repeat of PATCO.
    • Show threadBolexForSoupSep 27, 2023

    Fuck you for assuming I’m any kind of liberal. Especially fuck you for insinuating I’m a Republican.

    I didn’t. I said your comments are reflecting conservative talking points. Ease off the throttle man.

    Rarely does a strike end in the exact goals from the outset. It’s about which goals are most important. Paid leave was clearly important, and whether it came in that contract or months later - thanks to the Biden admin - is immaterial. That was a cornerstone demand and they are getting it. So your initial assessment is wrong. The union is clearly happy with how things shook out. Who cares if it took a few extra months? Obviously it was worth it.

    Despite the hostile tone I’m happy to honor my promise. I’ll be giving to my local SPCA - do you need a screenshot?

    Show threadrockSlayerSep 27, 2023

    I got a bit upset about you saying I was fueling right-wing talking points, so my bad. I’ll always fight on the side of labor, even if the Republican party is trying to make them the ball in political games.

    Personally I think it would have turned out much better for their union after even a day on strike, but I guess we’ll never know. My point is not “they didn’t get what they wanted but got something good”, it’s that the deal was forcibly imposed on them without any other options. I was not aware of the aftermath of the deal so I appreciate you highlighting it, but it still falls short in my eyes. Were I in their union, I’d be a minority opposed to the outcome. But that’s the thing, I’m just a guy on the Internet, not a member of IBEW, SMART-MD, or IBT (CWA guy in the tech industry, actually).

    I trust you to do the right thing, I don’t need a screen shot. Thank you for putting up.

    Show threadBolexForSoupSep 27, 2023
    I realize how my initial comment came off and I apologize as well. I also come off a bit self-righteous. Thanks for cooling the discussion off a bit and have a good one man.
    Show threadHereFishyFishySep 27, 2023
    This exchange is why I treasure lemmy. Thank you both
    Show threadqueermunist she/herSep 27, 2023

    I didn’t say anything about your personal politics - I have far too little to go off to make that kind of claim.

    You accused them of listening to Hannity, so uh

    Show threadBolexForSoupSep 27, 2023
    Different person, so uh
    Show threadqueermunist she/herSep 27, 2023

    He did. Stop listening to hannity.

    This necessarily implies anyone who disagrees listens to Hannity.

    Show threadBolexForSoupSep 27, 2023
    It was a tongue in cheek response to a different person, stop trying to force the issue please.
    Show threadqueermunist she/herSep 27, 2023

    No, I’m mad that you smeared everyone who disagrees with you. It was a “joke” but one where we are supposed to be the punchline.

    And then you started whining about civility.

    Show threadBolexForSoupSep 27, 2023

    I “smeared” one person with a sarcastic quip. Calm down. No one needs you to run to their rescue.

    Leave me alone please.

    Show threadacutfjgSep 27, 2023
    Ooof