Biden joins UAW picket line in Michigan: ‘Stick with it’

President Joe Biden told striking United Auto Workers members to “stick with it” during a brief visit to the picket line in Detroit on Tuesday.

Biden said that he had previously picketed with UAW workers when he was a senator but noted that his Tuesday appearance marked the first ever by a president during an active strike.

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In total Biden spent just under a half hour with the workers, posing for photos and delivering remarks beside UAW President Shawn Fain, who had invited Biden to the line on Friday.

“The fact of the matter is you guys, UAW, you saved the automobile industry back in 2008. You’ve made a lot of sacrifices. You gave up a lot, when the companies were in trouble. But now they’re doing incredibly well and guess what? You should be doing incredibly well too,” Biden told the crowd through a bullhorn. “Folks, stick with it. You deserve the significant raise you need and other benefits. Let’s get back what we lost. We saved them, and it’s about time they step up for us.”

The president had previously voiced support for the striking workers, yet he and White House officials had repeatedly declined to confirm whether he backed the specific demands put forth by UAW to the “Big Three” automakers, including a 40% pay increase.

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Asked as he was departing the picket line, Biden told reporters that “yes” he supported a pay increase for union members.