The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has launched a significant political outreach effort in the lead-up to the November election, following their endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris.
This endorsement is part of a larger campaign effort that includes Harris’ recent stop with her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The UAW’s latest initiative, described as its most ambitious political program in decades, aims to rally support for Harris as the next president.
However, not all UAW members are on board with this direction. In response, a counter-movement called “Auto Workers for Trump 2024” is gaining momentum. Led by Brian Pannebecker, a longtime auto worker, this group consists of UAW members and retirees who feel that the union leadership is disconnected from the concerns of the rank-and-file workers. They believe that re-electing former President Donald Trump would better serve their interests, particularly in the auto industry.
Pannebecker highlighted the visible support for Trump among workers, noting that “the truckers that are driving by us, they’re either UAW members or Teamsters members. We’re getting horn honks, thumbs up, and fist pumps because their jobs are on the line, and they know it.” He pointed out that the tension on the plant floor often stems from disagreements between union officials and those who openly support Trump.
The “Auto Workers for Trump 2024” group recently gathered outside the Stellantis Mack Assembly Plant in Detroit. Among the participants was Terra Johnson, who expressed her belief that a second Trump administration would bring more job security to the auto industry. Another participant, Brandon Dilucente, shared that his business flourished when Trump was in office, but he is now struggling to find work.
The group argues that Trump’s policies would benefit the auto industry by lowering gas prices and eliminating mandates that require over half of U.S. vehicle sales to be electric by 2032. Pannebecker criticized the push towards electric vehicles, stating, “Well, that’s only eight years away. That’s insanity. People do not want them. And I could take you on a tour around Detroit, right here, where we’re standing. Matter of fact, there’s a lot full of electric vehicles right there. They’re sitting there because nobody wants to buy ’em.”
On the other hand, UAW President Shawn Fain sees things differently. He believes that re-electing Trump would reverse the progress the union has made. “All they care about is their billionaire buddies and taking more wealth, and so this is a ‘which side are you on’ election, and that’s why working-class people will vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz because they’re one of us,” Fain said in a recent interview with CBS News’ Robert Costa.
Despite this strong stance from the union leadership, some members, like retiree Dan Acciacca, feel that the UAW should stay out of politics altogether. Acciacca explained:
“I understand you’re paying for representation. I accepted that as a union member, but I didn’t accept the fact that they were spending my union dollars for their promotion of political candidates.”
Pannebecker and his group plan to keep their movement alive by hosting “Auto Workers for Trump 2024” rallies at various Big Three facilities around the metro Detroit area every week leading up to Election Day. This ongoing effort highlights the deep divide within the UAW and the broader debate over the future of the auto industry in America.
Source: CBS News Detroit
