Gov. Whitmer: Possibility of prolonged UAW strike 'concerns me greatly'

A long autoworker strike deeply worries Gov. Gretchen Whitmer who says she regularly speaks with Detroit Three executives and UAW President Shawn Fain.

"We've got a lot riding on these negotiations and that's why I've encouraged everyone to stay at the table until they find a solution," she told reporters Tuesday. "I think it's really important and Michigan is uniquely impacted the longer that this goes on. So the prospect of a prolonged strike I think is one that concerns me greatly."

The UAW launched its strike on Sept. 15 by initially walking out at three plants across the U.S. The union has since expanded its strike targets each week that passes without a tentative agreement reached with Ford Motor Co., General Motors and Stellantis.

Fain has cast the strike as part of a broader struggle against economic inequality in the U.S. and called on politicians to pick a side in the fight.

Whitmer, meanwhile, called for a swift resolution to the protracted negotiations with contracts that will benefit workers while helping maintain Michigan's competitive edge in the auto industry, particularly as it transitions to electric vehicles.

"We know that they can and need to find a solution that both treats workers fairly and makes sure that these companies are viable and strong and competitive going into the future," she said.

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On the first day of the strike, Whitmer spoke at a UAW rally before attending the North American International Detroit Auto Show Charity Preview in Detroit. "I love you, I respect you and I stand with you," she told UAW members.

While many Democrats — including President Joe Biden — have widely publicized their visits to join striking workers, Whitmer quietly made her own stop. She declined to comment on the strike when she left sandwiches and bagels for the picket line, which included a crowd of UAW families and Michigan State University students, according to a report from The Washington Post.

The governor did not post photos or information about her appearance on Facebook or X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Whitmer hopes that an end to the strike could also prompt Ford to resume construction at a battery plant near Marshall set to receive roughly $1.8 billion in public subsidies. Whitmer has championed the project which is expected to create 2,500 new jobs. But last week Ford said it would pause work at the site until the company feels confident it can "competitively operate the plant," according to company spokesperson T.R. Reid. "We haven't made any final decision about the planned investment there," Reid told the Free Press last week. Work at the site is still underway, just not work carried out by Ford.

But Whitmer said that Ford could start back up soon depending on how UAW negotiations with the company shake out. "There are lots of implications from these negotiations and at the end of the day, I believe that once they are concluded, we will continue to move forward on Marshall," she said.

Whitmer has said the project will create good-paying jobs for Michigan workers. At the proposed Ford battery plant, just over three-quarters of the jobs created will pay an average annual wage of $41,600, according to a memo provided to lawmakers obtained by the Free Press.

Asked whether workers deserve more, Whitmer signaled that the project must balance worker pay with ensuring the battery plant is viable for Ford. "I do think that workers need to be paid a fair wage. We also need to make sure that these companies are competitive and can thrive," she said. "At the end of the day, both those things have to be true. And so as we think about the transition that's happening globally we are working hard to make sure that we are leaders."

Former President Donald Trump has railed against the transition to electric vehicles, characterizing it as a job-killer. Without mentioning Trump directly, Whitmer said she rejects "all the false choices" he has presented.

Contact Clara Hendrickson: chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Whitmer worried about long UAW strike impact in Michigan