President Joe Biden commended the United Auto Workers and Daimler Truck for coming to a tentative agreement at the last minute, preventing a potential strike that would have impacted 7,300 workers. Biden praised the power of collective bargaining and highlighted the potential to build a clean energy economy with strong, middle-class union jobs. The agreement includes significant raises of over 25% over the next four years, inflation protections, and the first profit-sharing deal in Daimler’s history, according to UAW President Shawn Fain.
Daimler Truck is a major manufacturer of trucks and buses, including Thomas Built buses, which are widely used in the United States for school transportation. CNN has reached out to Daimler Truck for further comment on the agreement. The tentative deal comes at a time of increased momentum for the UAW, with VW workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee recently voting to join the union. The UAW is also making efforts to represent workers at nine other foreign automakers with American plants, including BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, and Volvo.
The union has filed for a representation election at the Mercedes plant in Vance, Alabama, near Tuscaloosa, with the vote scheduled for next month and concluding on May 17. These recent organizing efforts are building on the success of a six-week strike last fall at the three unionized automakers – General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis – which resulted in record pay increases for UAW members at those companies. The UAW’s efforts to expand representation to foreign automakers with American plants is seen as a significant step in strengthening the union’s presence in the industry.
The UAW’s push to organize workers at various foreign automakers is part of a broader strategy to secure better pay and working conditions for all employees in the industry. The successful negotiations with GM, Ford, and Stellantis following last fall’s strike set a precedent for higher pay increases and benefits for UAW members. The UAW’s recent successes in organizing new plants and securing favorable contracts demonstrate the union’s ongoing commitment to advocating for the interests of workers in the auto manufacturing sector.
President Biden’s endorsement of the UAW-Daimler agreement reflects the administration’s support for strong labor unions and fair wages for American workers. The agreement not only benefits the 7,300 workers directly involved but also sets a positive example for other industries and companies to follow. The UAW’s continued efforts to expand representation and secure better contracts for members show a commitment to improving conditions for auto manufacturing workers across the country. Overall, the agreement between the UAW and Daimler Truck represents a significant victory for workers and union advocacy in the push for fair wages and benefits in the auto industry.
