Former Vice President Mike Pence supported the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike, saying the union is “pushing back rightly” on Biden administration policies encouraging electric vehicles (EVs).
The UAW began a first-of-its-kind strike Friday against three major automakers — Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. The union is demanding increased wages, retirement benefits and workplace protections.
Pence said he believes much of the UAW’s concerns are due to the state of the economy, specifically inflation.
“I have no doubt in my mind that all those hard-working autoworkers are living in the same reality every other American is in, and that’s wages are not keeping up with inflation,” Pence said in a CNN interview Sunday.
Inflation hit record highs last year, but it has since cooled amid optimism that the U.S. economy may avoid a feared recession.
In the interview, Pence refused to say whether automakers’ CEO pay is “unfair,” a key argument among UAW members and their supporters.
The former vice president pointed to the Inflation Reduction Act as a driver for autoworkers’ concerns. The act included provisions meant to encourage production of electric vehicles, including tax credits for purchasing them and programs to support new production facilities.
“I also think that this green agenda that’s using taxpayer dollars to drive our automotive economy into EVs is understandably causing great anxiety among UAW members,” Pence said. “These guys are seeing the Green New Deal that was passed under the guise of the Inflation Reduction Act, they’re seeing it drive their industry into EVs, benefiting China that makes most of our batteries.”
“I think they’re pushing back rightly and I also think the American people stand behind them … because we’re all living in the failed reality of Bidenomics,” he added.
The union has shared concerns about the EVs in the past, noting that most of the new EV production facilities are being built in the South and other regions of the country where union support and regulation is weaker.
UAW President Shawn Fain announced the union will not endorse President Biden’s reelection campaign over EV concerns.
“It was a tremendous slap in the face to the UAW to give billions of dollars to these corporations,” former UAW President Bob King said Saturday.
The Biden administration has backed the strike, and Biden encouraged automakers to return to the bargaining table with an increased offer Friday.
“I believe they should go further … Record corporate profits, which they have, should be shared by record contracts for the UAW,” Biden said.