DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – During the Labor Day Weekend, President Joe Biden’s forecast regarding the future for the United Auto Workers strike raised eyebrows from some and responses from others including UAW President Shawn Fain. 

While touting his highly pro-union stance at a Labor Day appearance in Philadelphia on Monday, President Biden shared with reporters he does not anticipate a strike. 

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“No, I’m not worried about a strike until it happens,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

The remarks drew the attention of UAW President Fain, who voiced his surprise. 

“He must know something we don’t know. Maybe the companies plan on walking in and giving us our demands on the night before, I don’t know, but he’s on the inside on something I don’t know about,” Fain said. “Our intent is not to strike. Our intent is to get a fair agreement. That’s been our intent from Day One.”

Last week, the UAW filed charges against two of the three Detroit Big Three Automakers. 

“GM and Stellantis’ willful refusal to bargain in good faith is not only insulting and counterproductive, it’s also illegal,” Fain said. “That’s why today our union filed unfair labor practice charges, or ULPs, against both GM and Stellantis with the National Labor Relations Board.”

UAW has previously voted to authorize a strike anytime after Sept. 14 should contract negotiations not reach a resolution between the auto union and the Big Three automakers. 

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“The union’s demands include the elimination of tiered wages and benefits, wage increases to offset inflation and match the generous salary increases of company executives over the last four years, the re-establishment of cost-of-living allowances and defined benefit pensions and retiree healthcare, the right to strike over plant closures, significant increases to current retiree benefits, and more paid time off to be with family,” according to UAW officials. 

The UAW among other contract negotiations also wants job security particularly from Ford as it transitions more of its inventory to Electric Vehicles (EV). 

“If Ford wants Built in America to mean something, then it has to mean something,” UAW officials said, “Our union isn’t going to stand by while we replace oil barons with battery barons who are more than happy to take billions in taxpayer handouts while offering workers dangerous jobs at poverty wages. Ford has a chance to lead here, but sadly they are choosing the low road approach.” 

Others including Sam Fiorani, an analyst with AutoForecast Solutions, are voicing their concerns for what a strike might mean for customers, including higher costs of vehicles. 

“More than half of the vehicles built in the U.S. are in nonunion plants,” he said according to the Associated Press. “So if you raise the price to build a unionized vehicle, you could price yourself out of competition with vehicles already built in North America.”

A strike lasting longer than a few weeks would contribute to fewer completed cars on lots, and likely drive up costs of cars while the demand remains relatively high.