Christopher Watkins (left) has been a plant worker for 10 years. Tameka Ellis, who puts parts into robots, has worked at the plant for 11 years. Ellis said she is striking because "I don't believe our wages are up to the cost of living, and we need those wages to go up to match the inflation of the last year."
Outside the Ford assembly plant in Wayne, Mich., a rumor floated among United Auto Workers picketing Tuesday morning: President Joe Biden would be visiting the factory.
“That’s the last guy I want to see,” shouted one striker in the group.
But Tameka Ellis, a UAW member who normally works assembling robotic parts, felt differently. She welcomed a visit by the president and said she felt “very excited” about its potential.
“I want to hear what he has to say. I think it will boost employee morale," she said.
Biden didn’t make it to Wayne. Instead, he appeared a stone’s throw away in Belleville, Mich., at GM’s Willow Run Redistribution Center, where he became the first sitting president to join a picket line.
Standing next to him was UAW president Shawn Fain, who, despite his public frustration with Biden over the past few weeks, offered nothing but praise on this “historic” occasion.
“Today I want to just take a moment to stand with all of you, with our president, and say thank you to the president. Thank you, Mr. President, for coming,” he said after Biden briefly addressed the crowd.
“Thank you for coming to stand up with us in our generation’s defining moment. And we know the president will do right by the working class.”
At the Wayne assembly plant, which sits along a congested street and right across the UAW building, not all picketing strikers spoke as highly of Biden.
Cameron White, who worked at the plant for three years, said he “made more money when Trump was president. It was a lot easier.”
Former President Donald Trump will get his chance to address White and other strikers when he visits Michigan on Wednesday, instead of attending the Republican primary debate in California.
Tiffany Karr said she didn’t want to pick sides — at least publicly.
"I think any exposure to our cause is good exposure and that's about as far as I go on that. I want to be more positive about what is happening,” she said.
United Auto Workers members walk the picket line outside of the Ford Motors Plant parking lot in Wayne, Mich., on Sept. 26, 2023. United Auto Workers walk the picket line outside of the Ford Motors Plant parking lot in Wayne, Michigan, on Sept. 26, 2023. Lance Sledge, stands outside Ford's Wayne Assembly Plant on September 26, 2023. Sledge has worked at the plant for eight and a half year as a production operator. The cost of living has gone up so much; it's only fair if they meet us someway to help us take care of our family. I'm a production worker, and I need to take care of my family. Cameron White and Tahja Lwery UAW workers, stand outside of Ford's Wayne Assembly Plant on September 26, 2023. White has worked at the plant for three years and is an assembly guy on the line. Tahja Lwery, has worked on the line in trim at the plant. When asked about Biden and Trump visiting the picket lines, White said, "Made more money when Trump was president, it was a lot easier." Joyce Ingraham, a UAW worker on strike, stands outside of Ford's Wayne Assembly Plant on September 26, 2023. Ingraham is an inspector at the plant and has worked there for 29 years. When asked about Biden and Trump visiting the picket lines, she said, "I appreciate their support, but they are looking for votes too." United Auto Workers walk the picket line outside of the Ford Motors Plant parking lot in Wayne, Michigan, on September 26, 2023. United States President Joe Biden is expected to visit the area and join the picket line on the twelfth day of the strike against the major U.S. carmakers. Left: A rat which signifies people that come in to replace striking UAW members outside of the Ford Motors Plant parking lot in Wayne, Mich., on September 26. Right: A button on a UAW striker's shirt. Tiffany Karr stands outside Ford's Wayne Assembly Plant on September 26, 2023. Karr has worked at the Michigan Assembly Plant as a line worker for about a year. When asked about Biden and Trump visiting she said, "I think any exposure to our cause is good exposure and that's about as far as I go on that. I want to be more positive about what is happening. Personally this is all about ending tiers, so you don't have to wait these insane amount of time to get raises and make more money, it's about people getting what's fair. Tony Branner stands outside Ford's Wayne Assembly Plant on September 26, 2023. Branner has worked at the plant for 11 years and assists the line. "Hopefully, they come in to make a change and bring awareness to the situation more." A striking United Auto Workers member outside of the Ford Motors Plant parking lot in Wayne, Michigan, on September 26, 2023. United States President Joe Biden is expected to visit the area and join the picket line on the twelfth day of the strike against the major U.S. carmakers.
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