Tesla in Joe Biden’s Crosshairs

US President Joe Biden publicly declared his support for the all-powerful UAW union’s efforts to include Tesla.

Following the UAW’s victory against the “Big Three”, Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, President Joe Biden stated that he would support the organization’s efforts to unionize Tesla and Toyota during a meeting with UAW President Shawn Fain.

Building on this historic strike, the UAW has already outlined its plans for the coming years, making the integration of workers from new automakers a top priority. And there’s no intention to wait, since Fain has already set the next major social deadline for May 1, 2028, International Workers’ Day. Not only against the “Big Three,” but, as he put it, against the “Big Five or Big Six.”

You don’t have to look far to predict who the next members of this very exclusive club will be, since Toyota, Tesla, and to a lesser extent Honda come to mind. And as if it wasn’t clear enough, Joe Biden added a little more fuel to the social fire by declaring he would support any initiative to unionize Toyota and Tesla.

In response to the UAW’s hints and Joe Biden’s remarks, Toyota immediately increased the wages of its non-unionized employees. A well-placed jab quickly covered with reassuring statements and the freedom given to its employees to unionize if they wish.

For his part, Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated in 2022 that he would never prevent his employees from joining a union, and has since escalated with implied threats. Let’s bet that the recent social conflicts at his Berlin factory have taught him that you shouldn’t play too much with fire…