The Detroit News reported earlier this week that several people wearing “Auto Workers for Trump” T-shirts at a Donald Trump campaign event in Michigan not really auto workers.
The report did not seem to surprise Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers union.
“It’s sad. Everything he does is a scam,” Fain said Thursday, referring to Trump.
The UAW, based in the crucial swing state of Michigan, has endorsed Harris, and leader Fain has become one of Trump’s most ardent critics. Fain spoke during a call organized by the Kamala Harris campaign ahead of Trump’s planned address to the Detroit Economic Club.
“There is a stark contrast between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris,” he said. “Kamala Harris has supported labor. She walked the walk. Donald Trump serves himself. He has always served himself.”
It’s pathetic. Everything he does is cheating.Shawn Fain on Donald Trump
Most major labor unions have lined up behind Harris and plan to help the Democratic candidate in his election efforts. However, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced last month that it would not endorse, citing membership polls showing increased support for Trump among its rank and file.
Like the Teamsters, the UAW makes its endorsement (or non-endorsement) through a vote of its board of directors, rather than through a vote of its members.
Asked about the Teamsters’ decision to stay out of the race, Fain said he believed he had “a responsibility as a leader” to take a stand against Trump, making clear note of the former president’s statements. anti-union record while you are in the office. He did not deny that a significant portion of union members would support Trump.
Quoting legendary UAW leader Walter Reuther, Fain said there was a connection between the “ballot box” and the “lunch box,” and argued that the gains unions and workers have made could be lost if Trump wins the presidency.
“What we discuss at the bargaining table can be taken away from us,” he said, noting that anti-union officials appointed by Trump made it harder for workers to organize.
Fain accused Trump of trying to “divide” the union during his historic strike against the Big Three automakers last year. He also targeted the Republican candidate for praising his supporter Elon Musk as the type of boss who would fire striking workers, which is generally illegal.
The latter was a reference to a chat Trump met with X’s owner on the social media platform in August. The UAW has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board over the comments, which alleged Trump and Musk were trying to intimidate workers.
“He sits there and cheers on Elon Musk for trying to fire striking workers, and they laugh about it,” Fain said. “And that’s why I said Donald Trump is a scabies.”
The group “Auto Workers for Trump” is real, founded by a retired autoworker named Brian Pannebecker. But that doesn’t mean that all rallygoers wearing the shirts actually worked in a car factory.
The Detroit News reported that “more than a dozen” people wore the T-shirts at an event headlined by Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, in Detroit on Tuesday. But six of them told the outlet they are not autoworkers themselves. Two said Pannebecker gave them the shirts.
During the UAW work stoppage last year, many media outlets reported that Trump would address striking workers in Michigan. In reality he gave a speech in a small, non-union auto parts manufacturer.
