LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow talked with United Auto Workers (UAW) in Lansing this morning. Senator Stabenow was joined by Deleware Senator Chris Coons, former Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly, and UAW and Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council leaders. The group discussed the Harris Walz plan to bring more jobs and manufacturing to the U.S.
As we close in on election day, United Auto Workers are speaking up about who they believe will best support Michigan and future EV battery plants. Senator Stabenow said with a global energy transition underway, Vice President Kamala Harris is the candidate who will move the country forward.
“We are at a pivotal point in terms of our economy and bringing back manufacturing and having Michigan lead the future,” Stabenow said. “This election is going to decide whether or not we are going forward or backward.”
Some UAW members disagree. Brian Pannebecker is a retired UAW member and the creator of Auto Workers for Trump, a Facebook group with nearly 2,000 members. He said former president Donald Trump is the one with a record of supporting workers, and that Harris doesn’t have the experience Trump does when it comes to negotiation and the energy policy that is shaping EV and manufacturing industries.
“He’s already done it. He’s got a record to run on.” Pannebecker said. “Auto workers are going to vote for Donald Trump. Teamsters are going to vote for Donald Trump. The Republicans are the party of the working men and women in this country.”
On the other side, President Mike Huerta of UAW Local 602 in Lansing said it was Trump who failed to support workers and allowed Michigan plants to close.
“In 2019 while we were on strike for 40 days the president of the United States had an opportunity to support us or not support us,” Huerta said. “The President of the United States at the time did not support us. Kamala Harris did.”
Senator Stabenow also highlighted the recent investments into an Upper Peninsula project called Revex. Senator Stabenow said the project is a part of U.S. goals to take ownership of the entire RV manufacturing process and build the infrastructure here that’s needed to compete with Chinese manufacturing.
“We don’t have a choice of whether or not there will be a new generation of electric vehicles. The question is: Will we be driving Chinese vehicles or American-made?”
– U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow
Stabenow said the jobs and economic growth from that project and others would be at stake under another Trump presidency.
