UAW files apparently 'frivolous' intimidation lawsuits against Trump, Musk — who have no control over UAW members' employment



On Tuesday, the United Auto Workers union announced that it filed labor charges against former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk following their recent Spaces interview on X.

The charges, filed separately, claimed that both Trump and Musk had attempted to "intimidate and threaten workers" during their interview. However, neither Trump nor Musk have the authority to dictate the hiring or firing practices of any automobile company that staffs the union's members. Tesla, owned by Musk, is not unionized.

'Shameless political stunt.'

In a statement on X, owned by Musk, the union wrote, "The UAW has filed federal labor charges against disgraced billionaires Donald Trump and Elon Musk for their illegal attempts to threaten and intimidate workers who stand up for themselves by engaging in protected concerted activity, such as strikes."

The UAW attempted to slam the Monday evening interview, which Musk claimed was wildly successful with one billion views. The union called the discussion "a rambling, disorganized conversation" during which Musk and Trump allegedly "advocated for the illegal firing of striking workers."

The allegations refer to comments Trump made to Musk, complimenting him for being "the greatest cutter." Trump was presumably referring to Musk's takeover of Twitter, during which Musk claimed that he had slashed the staff by roughly 80%.

Trump told Musk, "I look at what you do. You walk in and you just say, 'You want to quit?' They go on strike — I won't mention the name of the company — but they go on strike, and you say, 'That's okay, you're all gone. You're all gone. Every one of you is gone.'"

"Yeah," Musk responded with a laugh during the interview.

The UAW, which previously endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, said about Trump's comments, "Under federal law, workers cannot be fired for going on strike, and threatening to do so is illegal under the National Labor Relations Act."

UAW president Shawn Fain stated, "When we say Donald Trump is a scab, this is what we mean. When we say Trump stands against everything our union stands for, this is what we mean."

"Donald Trump will always side against workers standing up for themselves, and he will always side with billionaires like Elon Musk, who is contributing $45 million a month to a Super PAC to get him elected," Fain continued. "Both Trump and Musk want working-class people to sit down and shut up, and they laugh about it openly. It's disgusting, illegal, and totally predictable from these two clowns."

Musk, who has endorsed Trump for president, has denied the claim that he contributes $45 million monthly to his campaign. He responded to the UAW's filing by saying, "The last two UAW presidents went to prison for bribery & corruption and, based on recent news, it looks like this guy will join them!"

A Trump campaign spokesperson called the UAW's lawsuit "frivolous" and nothing more than an attempt to drive a wedge between the former president and the union's members, the Detroit News reported.

Campaign spokesperson Brian Hughes stated, "This frivolous lawsuit is a shameless political stunt intended to erode President Trump's overwhelming support among America's workers."

"Democrat special interest bosses may lie and stoke fear to try and stop President Trump from creating the broadest coalition of any candidate in history, but rank-and-file workers and their families know the truth. President Trump strengthened our economy and delivered results on behalf of the forgotten men and women of America," Hughes added.

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Auto worker tells CNN his plan to defy union's Biden endorsement as groundswell of support for Trump grows



Members of the United Auto Workers told CNN why an increasing number from their ranks is supporting Donald Trump for president.

Earlier this year, the UAW endorsed President Joe Biden for re-election. The union argued Biden is the right candidate because he stands with auto workers and understands the concerns of the working class.

'Is their life better now than it was 10 years ago or worse? And for many, many working people, it's worse.'

But that's not true, according to some UAW members from Michigan who recently spoke with CNN anchor John King.

Chris Vitale, a worker at Chrysler, told King that he plans to defy the UAW's presidential endorsement and vote for Trump. The reason? Out-of-touch Democrats and the electric-vehicle agenda.

"The government seems to be appeasing the coasts. You know, everyone who lives in Manhattan thinks everyone should drive an electric car," Vitale said.

"I've watched this region go from the arsenal of democracy to now— we're happy if we can get a sports stadium or we're going to sell wheat or fireworks or whatever," he said. "It's absolutely pathetic what we have sunk to now. And our politicians — they're good with it. [Trump] isn't. So that's the difference."

Bob King, a former UAW president, told King that auto workers support Trump because of the economy.

"People feel like the government and the establishment hasn't been delivered for them. Is their life better now than it was 10 years ago or worse? And for many, many working people, it's worse. Their standard of living has deteriorated. In some cases, their communities have deteriorated," Bob King said.

— (@)

King also spoke with Walter Robinson Jr., a Ford worker who supports Biden. He estimated that 40% of his co-workers support Trump because of the economy.

"Gas prices are still pretty high. Food when you go to the grocery store, every time — it's just me and my wife and it's $200 every time I go to the grocery store," Robinson said.

The latest polls show Michigan is a toss-up. Some polls have Biden up by one or two points, while others show Trump leading by one or two points.

What is not debatable, however, is the fact that Biden needs the Rust Belt — Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin — to win re-election. He won all of these states in 2020 en route to the White House.

But as the comments from these Michigan voters show, Biden could easily lose those states as Americans remember the state of the economy under Trump.

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‘It’s Absolutely Pathetic’: Autoworkers Discuss What Is Fueling Support For Trump In Crucial Swing State

'They’re good with it, he isn’t'

UAW president faces probe over alleged retaliation, obstruction of federal investigation



United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain is under investigation for alleged retaliation against other union leaders, according to a Monday court filing,Reuters reported.

The union's secretary-treasurer, Margaret Mock, was reportedly stripped of her duties for allegedly "engag[ing] in misconduct while carrying out her financial oversight responsibilities." However, Mock claimed the accusations were false and instead insisted that Fain retaliated against her because she was reluctant to authorize "certain expenditures" from Fain's office, the filing revealed.

'Sometimes you have to rock the boat.'

Fain also accused Rich Boyer, the leader of the union's Stellantis department, of "dereliction of duty" regarding a collective bargaining issue. The court filing indicated that Fain was again accused of retaliation for stripping Boyer's duties.

Independent federal monitor Neil Barofsky opened an investigation into the allegations against Fain, Mock, and Boyer.

Barofsky claimed that Fain and other union leaders have obstructed the ongoing investigation, citing a "lapse in cooperation" after the UAW failed to produce requested documents in a timely manner. The court filing showed that the union handed over 2,600 of the estimated 116,000 relevant documents.

Fain encouraged the monitor "to investigate whatever claims are brought to their office, because we know what they'll find: a UAW leadership committed to serving the membership, and running a democratic union."

"Taking our union in a new direction means sometimes you have to rock the boat, and that upsets some people who want to keep the status quo," Fain remarked.

The Department of Justice claimed that the union is "making it difficult, if not impossible, for the Monitor to fulfill his mandate to remove fraud, corruption and illegality from within the UAW."

Barofsky was appointed federal monitor in 2021 after DOJ investigations resulted in the convictions of several former union leaders on corruption charges.

The UAW declined to comment, Reuters reported.

Earlier this year, the UAWendorsed President Joe Biden for re-election. The union also backed the administration's"strongest-ever" vehicle emission standards and rejected claims that the restrictions would slash union jobs.

"We reject the fearmongering that says tackling the climate crisis must come at the cost of union jobs. Ambitious and achievable regulations can support both. We call on the Biden Administration to hold automakers accountable so that this rule is not used as an excuse to cut or offshore jobs," the UAW stated in March.

Despite the union's claims, Stellantis announced last year that it was planning layoffs partly due to "the need to manage sales of the vehicles they produce to comply with California emissions regulations that are measured on a state-by-state basis."

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Ford delays production of new electric vehicle amid slowing market — still plans to 'build a full EV line-up'



Ford announced on Thursday that it will push back the production of its new electric vehicle as the market for EVs continues to slow.

The automaker had plans to unveil a new three-row electric SUV in 2025 but now says it will not begin production until 2027. The vehicle will be manufactured at its Oakville, Ontario, plant.

"The additional time will allow for the consumer market for three-row EVs to further develop and enable Ford to take advantage of emerging battery technology, with the goal to provide customers increased durability and better value," the automaker wrote in a recent press release.

Jim Farley, Ford's president and CEO, acknowledged that postponing production of the new EV would affect plant workers.

"We value our Canadian teammates and appreciate that this delay will have an impact on this excellent team," Farley stated. "We are fully committed to manufacturing in Canada and believe this decision will help us build a profitably growing business for the long term."

Ford vowed to work with the trade union to mitigate the impact on Oakville's workers.

Bev Goodman, president and CEO of Ford Canada, said, "We are committed to taking care of our valued Oakville employees through this transition."

"While this change requires a revision to the timeline, it will support a viable and growing future for our company, employees and dealers," Goodman added.

Ford previously declared that it would debut its new all-electric pickup truck in late 2025, Fox Business reported, but the latest company press release stated that customer deliveries will begin in 2026. According to the automaker, the truck's production at its Tennessee plant is "progressing on track."

The news outlet reported that Ford lost $4.7 billion on its EVs in 2023 and is projected to lose another $5-$5.5 billion in 2024. Despite the losses, Ford recently reaffirmed its commitment to developing its EV fleet.

"The company continues to invest in a broad set of EV programs as it works to build a full EV line-up. These initiatives support the development of a differentiated and profitably growing EV business over time while Ford serves customers with the right mix of gas, hybrid and electric vehicles based on demand today," Ford said Thursday.

The automaker also announced plans to expand its hybrid EV line-up.

"By the end of the decade, the company expects to offer hybrid powertrains across its entire Ford Blue lineup in North America. In the first quarter of 2024, Ford's electric vehicle sales increased by 86% and hybrid sales rose 42% versus a year ago," it added.

"As the No. 2 EV brand in the U.S. for the past two years, we are committed to scaling a profitable EV business, using capital wisely and bringing to market the right gas, hybrid and fully electric vehicles at the right time," Farley stated. "Our breakthrough, next-generation EVs will be new from the ground up and fully software enabled, with ever-improving digital experiences and a multitude of potential services."

Last month, the Biden administration rolled out the "strongest-ever" vehicle emission standards in an effort to push Americans away from gas-powered vehicles.

Farley responded to the Environmental Protection Agency's new regulations, stating, "The @EPA final rule is ambitious and challenging, and meeting these goals will require close public-private cooperation. @Ford is absolutely committed to lowering CO2 emissions while offering customers real choice across hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles."

The United Auto Workers, which represents approximately 57,000 Ford workers, also supported the EPA's new standards.

"We reject the fearmongering that says tackling the climate crisis must come at the cost of union jobs. Ambitious and achievable regulations can support both. We call on the Biden Administration to hold automakers accountable so that this rule is not used as an excuse to cut or offshore jobs," the UAW said.

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UAW backs Biden's 'strongest-ever' vehicle emission standards, claims it won't cut autoworker jobs



The United Auto Workers union recently voiced its support for the Biden administration's finalized vehicle emission standards, according to a Wednesday statement from the union.

The administration's Environmental Protection Agency unveiled the "strongest-ever" pollution regulations, effectively forcing most new car sales to be electric vehicles by 2032, Blaze News previously reported.

The regulations impact light-duty vehicles starting with the model year 2027, ensuring that more than 56% of new cars sold are zero-emissions by 2032. The restrictions targeting gas-powered vehicles aim to push the American market to opt for hybrid- and electric-powered alternatives.

The finalized standards scaled back on the agency's previous proposal by rolling out a slower implementation to allow automakers additional time to reach the administration's goals. The decision to pull back the standards was made after several manufacturers called the EPA's initial proposal impractical.

However, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan assured reporters this week that the slower rollout would not impact the end target.

"Let me be clear: Our final rule delivers the same, if not more, pollution reduction than we set out in our proposal," he stated.

On Wednesday, the UAW declared its support for the new EPA restrictions on light-duty vehicles, noting that the agency considered its concerns when finalizing the standards. It called the new regulations "more feasible" than the agency's initial proposal.

The union reaffirmed its support for "protecting the environment" by "creat[ing] a cleaner domestic auto industry," claiming that the "climate crisis has taken a heavy toll on working people."

"We reject the fearmongering that says tackling the climate crisis must come at the cost of union jobs. Ambitious and achievable regulations can support both. We call on the Biden Administration to hold automakers accountable so that this rule is not used as an excuse to cut or offshore jobs," the UAW said.

Late last year, Stellantis announced upcoming layoffs, partly due to "the need to manage sales of the vehicles they produce to comply with California emissions regulations that are measured on a state-by-state basis."

The union called on the federal government to implement "tariff protections" to ensure the EV industry would not become dominated by import automakers.

In January, the UAW endorsed President Biden in the upcoming presidential election, stating that he is "someone who stands up with us and supports our cause."

Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford Motor Company, posted a statement on X in response to the EPA's announcement.

"The @EPA final rule is ambitious and challenging, and meeting these goals will require close public-private cooperation. @Ford is absolutely committed to lowering CO2 emissions while offering customers real choice across hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles," Farley stated.

Even the UAW claims that the EV market is "growing." However, car rental company Hertz, which committed significant investments to expanding its EV fleet, announced in January that it would sell off 25% of its inventory due to "expenses related to collision and damage." On Monday, the company announced that its CEO, Stephen Scherr, who supported the switch to EVs, would be stepping down at the end of the month. The company stated that it would use the profits from the sale of the EVs to purchase gas-powered vehicles to restock its fleet.

Meanwhile, thousands of automobile dealerships nationwide have reported that the demand for EVs has significantly slowed. In November, a coalition of nearly 4,000 dealerships urged the Biden administration to roll back its new "unrealistic" emissions standards, claiming that EVs are "stacking up on our lots" despite "deep price cuts, manufacturer incentives, and generous government incentives." The auto dealers called the EPA's proposed regulations "unrealistic based on current and forecasted customer demand."

The EPA contends that the move to zero-emission vehicles will "avoid more than 7 billion tons of carbon emissions and provide nearly $100 billion of annual net benefits to society, including $13 billion of annual public health benefits due to improved air quality, and $62 billion in reduced annual fuel costs, and maintenance and repair costs for drivers."

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Biden Admin Finalizes Rules To Crack Down on Gas Cars

President Joe Biden's Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday finalized its restrictions on gas-powered car emissions, an attempt to fast-track transitioning the country to electric vehicles.

The post Biden Admin Finalizes Rules To Crack Down on Gas Cars appeared first on Washington Free Beacon.

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