Biden celebrates labor deal saving Illinois auto plant
BELVIDERE, Ill. — President Biden put on a red United Auto Workers shirt on Thursday as he celebrated a labor deal that will prevent Belvidere’s Stellantis plant from closing, treating the factory’s salvation as a vindication of his decision to stand with striking union members as they demanded higher wages.
“American workers are ready to work harder than anyone else,” Biden told the crowd of cheering autoworkers in a community center in the northern Illinois city.
“But they just need to be given a shot,” he added. “A fair shot and a fair wage.”
Biden praised the members of the union as “as tough, tough, tough as they come.”
Someone in the audience shouted to the president, “That shirt looks good on you.”
“I’ve worn this shirt a lot, man,” Biden responded. “You have no idea. I’ve been involved with the UAW longer than you’ve been alive.”
The crowd roared with laughter.
Biden visited a UAW picket line in Michigan in September to support the union during its targeted strikes against Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, the maker of Jeep, Dodge, and Ram vehicles. The strikes have ended, and contracts are still being finalized.
“He came out and stood with the picketers,” said Matt Franzen, the local UAW president who introduced Biden. “He’s always been for us, with us. He proved that.”
Biden reminded his audience Thursday that Donald Trump, who remains the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, visited a nonunion facility on his own trip to Michigan.
“I hope you guys have a memory,” the president said. “Where I come from, it matters.”