President Joe Biden commended the United Auto Workers and Daimler Truck for reaching a tentative agreement at the last minute on Friday night, avoiding a potential strike that would have affected 7,300 workers. In a statement on Sunday, Biden praised the power of collective bargaining and emphasized the importance of building a clean energy economy with strong union jobs. The agreement, described as a “record contract,” includes raises of over 25% over the next four years, inflation protections, and the first profit-sharing deal in Daimler history, according to UAW President Shawn Fain.
Daimler Truck is a major manufacturer of trucks and buses, known for producing Thomas Built buses, one of the most popular brands of school buses in the United States. CNN has reached out to Daimler Truck for comment on the agreement. The agreement comes at a time of increased momentum for the UAW, following a recent successful organizing effort at Volkswagen’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where hourly workers voted overwhelmingly to join the union. This breakthrough is part of the UAW’s broader effort to organize workers at foreign automakers with American plants, including BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, and Volvo.
In addition to the agreement with Daimler Truck, the UAW has announced an effort to represent workers at several other foreign automakers with American plants. The union has already filed for a representation election at the Mercedes plant in Vance, Alabama, near Tuscaloosa, with the vote scheduled to conclude on May 17. These recent organizing efforts are building on the success of a six-week strike last fall at the nation’s three unionized automakers – General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis – which resulted in record pay increases for UAW members at those companies. The union’s efforts to organize workers at foreign automakers with American plants are seen as crucial in expanding representation and ensuring strong collective bargaining power for workers in the auto industry.
The success of the UAW in recent organizing efforts highlights the importance of collective bargaining in securing fair wages and benefits for workers in the auto industry. The agreement with Daimler Truck, which includes significant raises, inflation protections, and profit-sharing, demonstrates the positive impact of union representation in negotiating favorable terms for workers. The union’s ongoing efforts to organize workers at foreign automakers with American plants further strengthen the collective bargaining power of UAW members and expand representation in the industry. By prioritizing the creation of strong middle-class union jobs in a clean energy economy, President Biden and the UAW are working together to build a more equitable and sustainable future for American workers in the auto industry.
Overall, the recent agreement between the United Auto Workers and Daimler Truck exemplifies the benefits of collective bargaining in securing fair wages and benefits for workers. The agreement, which includes substantial raises and innovative profit-sharing arrangements, highlights the power of unions in advocating for the interests of workers in the auto industry. The UAW’s successful organizing efforts at foreign automakers with American plants further underscore the importance of union representation in expanding collective bargaining power and ensuring strong protections for workers. President Biden’s support for the agreement reflects a commitment to building a clean energy economy with strong middle-class union jobs, emphasizing the role of collective bargaining in shaping a more equitable future for American workers in the auto industry.
