President Joe Biden is facing calls from within his party to reconsider his reelection bid, prompting him to turn to labor unions for backing. The 81-year-old Democrat is scheduled to meet with the executive council of the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of trade unions in the U.S.
The meeting comes at a crucial time for Biden, following concerns about his debate performance against Donald Trump and questions about his ability to compete in the upcoming election. Despite these challenges, Biden aims to leverage his longstanding relationships with union leaders to shore up support.
The AFL-CIO, representing 12.5 million union members, has expressed solidarity with the Biden administration, emphasizing their support for his policy agenda. While some statements suggest a degree of flexibility in case Biden withdraws, union leaders like AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler have reaffirmed their backing for the Biden-Harris ticket.
Key union figures, including United Steelworkers International President David McCall and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers President Kenneth Cooper, have voiced strong support for Biden, citing his track record of advocating for working people.
Biden's engagement with unions aligns with his administration's focus on labor rights and the middle class. He has championed causes such as protecting pensions, expanding overtime pay eligibility, and supporting union workers during labor disputes.
Despite recent setbacks, unions believe that emphasizing Biden's policy initiatives resonates more with members than concerns about his age. They argue that Biden's agenda has directly benefited union workers, contrasting it with Trump's policies, which they claim could harm workers' interests.
As the election approaches, both Biden and Trump are vying for union support. While Trump has made overtures to union members, Biden's edge with union households in key states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin played a pivotal role in his victory in 2020.
With the union movement's strategy centered on promoting Biden's policy platform, the upcoming meeting with the AFL-CIO executive council serves as a critical test of Biden's ability to rally support and secure the backing of a crucial constituency.
