Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are emphasizing their backing for organized labor as they visit a Detroit-area union hall in a bid to attract support from this critical base. Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, and Walz, newly added to the ticket, are scheduled to address a group of United Auto Workers members on Thursday.
Since President Joe Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed Harris, the labor sector has swiftly rallied around her, with the AFL-CIO and the UAW officially endorsing her candidacy. Harris and Walz have been underscoring their commitment to workers during their initial joint appearances in key battleground states crucial for the upcoming election.
Their campaign efforts in Wisconsin and Michigan on Wednesday aimed at securing backing from young, diverse, and labor-friendly voters who played a significant role in Biden’s victory in 2020. UAW President Shawn Fain expressed to the Associated Press that having Harris as the Democratic nominee enhances their prospects in Michigan and retaining the presidency.
Fain criticized Trump, claiming he favors billionaires, lacks understanding of the auto industry, and would set back the labor movement in a potential second term. Fain’s confrontations with the Republican nominee have intensified, with Vance, Trump’s running mate, staging appearances in Michigan and Wisconsin to demonstrate Republican competitiveness in traditionally Democratic Midwestern states.
Harris confronted protesters during a campaign rally at an airport, where they accused her of supporting genocide in Gaza. Despite initially trying to engage with the demonstrators, Harris eventually asserted, “If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking”. Union members present at the event expressed their support for Harris, with one attendee hoping for Harris to visit a union facility in Michigan to showcase her solidarity with workers.
Attendees like Jeanne Ruff, from Livonia, Michigan, whose husband is a long-time UAW member, highlighted the importance of promoting trade skills in schools to educate the future generation on the significance of unions and unity in the workforce.
