Presidential hopeful Mike Pence expressed his support for the United Auto Workers in light of the increasing cost of living.
Pence appeared on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday — the third day of the auto workers union strike against the Big Three in Detroit, Michigan, which are General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford. The former vice president said he agreed with the majority of Americans in supporting those striking for higher wages and fewer working hours.
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“Well, let me say what I don’t think is fair is that Joe Biden has put forward an economic agenda from the outset that launched the worst inflation in 40 years. I mean, literally, the cost of living has gone up 17% since we left office,” Pence said. “I have no doubt in my mind that all those hard-working autoworkers are living in the same reality as others Americans, and that is that wages are not keeping up with inflation.”
Pence went on to lament that the Biden administration is driving the industry toward electric vehicles, which in turn benefits China as the country produces most of the world’s share of electric car batteries.
“I think they are pushing back, rightly, and I also think the American people stand behind them because we are all living in a failed reality of Bidenomics today,” Pence said of the UAW workers.
Still, Pence would not agree to any sort of government mandate that would intervene in the wages and salaries of CEO’s versus their lower-level employees. He claimed he was a believer in “free enterprise.” Pence is one of thirteen candidates vying for the 2024 Republican nomination for president.
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UAW members are seeking a 36% pay bump over the next four years. Employees at the three automakers currently earn between $18 to $32 an hour, meaning that such a dramatic increase would see wages pushed as high as $43.52 per hour. Meanwhile, the Big Three have countered with wage increases ranging from 17.5-20% over the life of a contract.
The last time the UAW went on strike was in 2019, and in those six weeks, the largest auto union in the nation cost $3.6 billion for GM. This time, the union is striking against all of the Big Three Detroit automakers.
