Biden Praises Daimler Truck-UAW Deal, Promoting Clean Energy and Middle-Class Jobs

President Joe Biden commended the United Auto Workers (UAW) union and Daimler Truck for reaching a groundbreaking agreement in the final moments on Friday night, averting potential strikes involving 7,300 workers. In his statement released over the weekend, Biden affirmed that this pact demonstrated how collective bargaining is an instrumental mechanism to generate decent middle-class jobs while advancing clean energy policies. Daimler Truck Corporation manufactures trucks and buses globally, including Thomas Built school buses which are popular in America’s education sector. The tentative agreement encompasses substantial pay hikes exceeding 25% over a four-year span as well as cost of living adjustments for the first time ever at Daimler Truck Corporation, UAW President Shawn Fain stated on Facebook Live Friday evening. CNN reached out to Daimler Trucks for comment but has not received any response yet. The recent development comes after workers in Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant voted overwhelmingly earlier this month to join the union – a significant breakthrough in UAW efforts aimed at organizing employees across multiple foreign automakers with US-based plants, including BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota and Volvo. The organization has already filed for representation elections to take place next month at the Mercedes plant in Vance, Alabama near Tuscaloosa. That vote will end on May 17th. These organizing endeavors have gained momentum following a successful six-week strike last fall by unionized automakers General Motors, Ford and Stellantis which led to unprecedented wage hikes for UAW members at these companies during subsequent contract negotiations. CNN’s Chris Isidore contributed reporting in this article.