UAW President Warns of Job Losses if Trump Wins Election
United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain cautioned that hundreds of thousands of US jobs could be jeopardised if former President Donald Trump wins the November 5 election and follows through on his pledge to withdraw investments in electric vehicles (EVs).
Fain made this statement on Thursday, criticising Trump’s position and highlighting the potential impact on jobs across the US. He noted that such a move would affect not only auto factories but also the wider supply chain, putting many American jobs in jeopardy.
Political Dispute Over EV Investments
Democrats have focused on Trump’s running mate, US Senator JD Vance of Ohio, who has refused to support a $500 million investment to help General Motors (GM) convert an existing Cadillac plant into an EV facility. This uncertainty has drawn criticism from the UAW.
Vance recently stated that neither he nor Trump planned to remove the allocated funds. He argued, however, that the Biden administration’s EV policies could harm autoworkers. “What we’ve said is that Kamala Harris is offering table scraps – $500 million – when you have an EV mandate that’s going to cost 117,000 auto worker jobs,” Vance said.
In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been endorsed by Fain and the UAW, has assured that there are no plans for an all-EV mandate. She emphasised that the focus is on providing consumer choice and ensuring US manufacturers can compete with China.
Impact on Workers and Endorsements
Fain reinforced the UAW’s support for Harris and criticised Trump’s previous silence during the 2019 GM workers’ strike, despite his claims to support American workers. He pointed out that the Biden administration had imposed a 100% tariff on Chinese EVs to help US automakers grow in the sector.
Some autoworkers have expressed concerns that the shift to EVs could reduce jobs in the auto industry. However, Harris and her advisers have argued that EV manufacturing would create new jobs, as many parts will still be made in the US.
Possible Reversal of EV Incentives
Trump has also indicated that if elected, he would consider eliminating a $7,500 tax credit for EV purchases included in President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. He described tax credits as “not generally a very good thing” and suggested that incentives for EVs could be scrapped.
During his presidency, Trump had sought to repeal the EV tax credit, which was later expanded under Biden’s administration in 2022. If elected, Trump could also try to reverse Treasury Department rules that currently favour automakers in utilising the tax credit.
