CNN
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Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and White House senior adviser Gene Sperling will no longer be deployed to Detroit this week, a White House official said, and will instead engage with Labor leaders United Automobile and Auto Manufacturers of Washington, DC.
Sperling and Su previously planned to travel to Detroit “early this week” under President Joe Biden to “offer their full support to the parties in reaching a deal.” The White House had described its role as one of support and not intervention.
“Acting Secretary Su and Gene Sperling have been in constant communication with the parties on the status of the negotiations. Given that negotiations are ongoing between the negotiating parties, it is more productive for Sperling and Su to continue their discussions from Washington and allow negotiations to move forward, and we will continue to evaluate the travel schedule based on the active state of negotiations. an official said.
“The president stands with UAW workers and believes that record corporate profits must mean record contracts for the UAW,” the official said, echoing the president’s statement on Friday.
UAW President Shawn Fain has said in recent days that he does not view the president’s team as a key force in brokering a deal between the union and automakers.
“Not at all. This is our battle,” Fain said on MSNBC Monday. “First of all, our negotiating teams are working hard. Our members are manning the picket lines and our allies are standing with us. You know, This battle is not about the president. It is not about the former president or anyone before that. In this battle, workers must stand up for economic and social justice and get their fair share, because they have it Enough of going backwards.”
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
Cnn