The United Steelworkers union announced its endorsement of the 2024 re-election campaign bid weeks after President Joe Biden opposed the sale of U.S. Steel to Japan's Nippon Steel Corporation.
The United Steelworkers Union's Biden Support
The union supported Biden in 2020 and represents 850,000 workers across steel mills, manufacturing plants, mines, rubber plants, railyards, nursing homes, legal clinics, social agencies, call centers, and credit union sectors.
In a tweet on Wednesday, the union cited Biden's support for retirement security, affordable healthcare, and laws that aid workers, highlighting, "We're eager for his administration's continued progress on our core issues."
Biden's Opposition to U.S.-Nippon Steel Deal
In a statement last week, Biden conveyed his commitment to supporting steelworkers, stressing the significance of the U.S. Steel maintaining its iconic status and remaining as an American-owned and operated steel company.
The United Steelworkers, a strong opponent of the deal, filed a grievance in January, asserting a breach of its union contract in the proposed acquisition.
Nippon Steel's Positive Commitment
The $14.9 billion sale, announced in December, would end U.S. ownership of the country's second-largest steelmaker. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States is currently reviewing the deal, assessing the potential impact of transactions on national security.
The USW expressed concerns about whether Nippon would uphold existing labor agreements.
Nippon Steel has pledged to enhance American supply chains and bolster economic defenses against China while aligning with American priorities, ensuring that no layoffs or plant closures will occur due to the transaction.
Biden's Pro-Worker and Pro-Union Legacy
The president has prioritized strengthening America's manufacturing base in his economic agenda and often describes himself as the most pro-union president in history.
Julie Chávez Rodríguez, campaign manager for the president's re-election efforts, stated that Biden had fulfilled his pledge to be the "most pro-worker and pro-union president in the history of the United States," not just by advocating for the retention of manufacturing jobs in the United States but also by boosting American steel and domestic purchases, which created more economic opportunities nationwide.
While the AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers, and other unions previously endorsed Democrat Biden in his race against Republican nominee Donald Trump, the Teamsters union has talked with both candidates and is still deliberating.
Biden's opposition to Nippon's acquisition of U.S. Steel supports unionized workers, potentially at the expense of upsetting the business community and a crucial ally in Japan. U.S. Steel, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, since 1901, makes it significant for the election.
Trump also stated his intention to block the acquisition of U.S. Steel earlier this year, describing it as a horrible thing for a Japanese company to buy. Nippon asserted that the deal would benefit U.S. Steel, union workers, and national security by enhancing quality and competitiveness while strengthening the American supply chains.
