Staff Reports
Auto workers are expressing discontent with President Joe Biden's green agenda, particularly his push for Electric Vehicle (EV) mandates, and are currently on strike against major automakers, including General Motors (GM), Ford, and Stellantis. Their primary concerns revolve around the potential impact of these EV mandates on their jobs within the American auto industry.
Workers like Whitney Walch at Stellantis’ Portland Parts Distribution Center in Beaverton, Oregon, fear that EVs could render their jobs obsolete. They point out that EVs eliminate the need for components like spark plugs and oil filters, which are central to their work. Another worker, DeJhon Moore from Michigan, expresses skepticism about the reliability of EVs for long-distance travel and prefers traditional vehicles.
OUR DEFINING MOMENT.
A new industry is being born. New standards are being set.
It's not just about Lordstown.
Everywhere, our message is the same: Our country deserves good, safe, living-wage union jobs.
It's time to build an EV industry that puts workers first.#UAW pic.twitter.com/cNB6ujxR99
— UAW (@UAW) July 5, 2023
Cornelius Lincoln, the president of the UAW GM's distribution warehouse in Texas, underscores that the strike against the major automakers aims to protect auto workers' jobs. He acknowledges the likelihood of job losses due to the adoption of EVs and questions the automakers' commitment to job preservation. Concerns also extend to China's dominant position in the supply chains for critical materials required in EV production, which could further jeopardize American jobs.
Former President Donald Trump has weighed in on the issue, warning that Biden's alignment with environmentalists could have detrimental consequences for American automobile manufacturing. Trump advocates for prioritizing American labor over what he views as "left-wing" proponents of EVs. Nonetheless, the transition to EVs presents challenges, as evidenced by Ford Motor Company's projected $4.5 billion loss for EVs in its second-quarter financial results for 2023. While Ford still posted a net income, the move toward EVs is proving to be a costly endeavor for the company.
