“Donald Trump Is a Scab”: UAW President Shawn Fain Hails Kamala Harris & Attacks Corporate Greed

JUAN GONZÁLEZ: The Democratic Nationwide Conference started Monday in Chicago, a metropolis with a wealthy labor historical past and a mayor who’s a former lecturers union organizer. Mayor Brandon Johnson kicked off the opening evening of the DNC. Not invited to the DNC was Teamsters President Sean O’Brien, who spoke on the Republican Nationwide Conference final month. A number of different union leaders did deal with the DNC on Monday, together with United Auto Employees President Shawn Fain.

SHAWN FAIN: For the UAW and for working-class individuals in every single place, this election comes down to 1 query: Which facet are you on? On one facet, we now have Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, who’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with the working class. On the opposite facet, we now have Trump and Vance, two lapdogs for the billionaire class who solely serve themselves. So, for us within the labor motion, it’s actual easy. Kamala Harris is one in every of us. She’s a fighter for the working class. And Donald Trump is a scab!

AUDIENCE: Trump’s a scab! Trump’s a scab! Trump’s a scab! Trump’s a scab! Trump’s a scab! Trump’s a scab! Trump’s a scab! Trump’s a scab! Trump’s a scab! Trump’s a scab! Trump’s a scab!

SHAWN FAIN: That’s not — that’s not simply my opinion. That’s a reality. All we now have to do is have a look at the observe report. When Donald Trump was president, company America ran wild. Donald Trump didn’t convey again the auto trade. When Donald Trump was president, auto vegetation closed. Trump did nothing. Trump instructed employees in Lordstown, Ohio, that he can be bringing all of the auto jobs again, and Trump did nothing. In 2019, Common Motor employees went on strike for 40 days for good jobs and a greater life. And Trump did nothing. Discuss is reasonable.

However in 2019, you understand who was on the picket line standing shoulder to shoulder with autoworkers? I’ll offer you a clue: Her initials are Kamala Harris. In 2023, who helped convey jobs again to Lordstown, Ohio? Kamala Harris. And in 2024, who will stand with the working class in our battle for justice? Kamala Harris. And that’s the distinction. Donald Trump is all discuss, and Kamala Harris walks the stroll.

Woo! Within the phrases of the good American poet Nelly, “It’s getting scorching in right here.”

Donald Trump laughs about firing employees who go on strike. And Kamala Harris stands shoulder to shoulder with employees once they’re on strike. And that’s the distinction between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump the scab.

Trump is pushing divide-and-conquer techniques of the wealthy. It’s the oldest trick within the ebook. They wish to blame the frustrations of the working-class individuals — they wish to take these frustrations, they wish to blame it on race. They wish to blame it on LGBTQ+ individuals. They wish to blame it on some destitute and determined particular person on the border. They try this as a result of they need working-class individuals to be divided and to focus and maintain the main target off the one true enemy: company greed.

AMY GOODMAN: That was UAW President Shawn Fain addressing the Democratic Nationwide Conference on the primary evening of those 4 nights. Halfway by his speech, Fain took off his swimsuit jacket to point out he was sporting a T-shirt that learn “Trump is a scab.” Fain’s speech comes because the UAW is warning it might name for a brand new nationwide strike in opposition to Stellantis.

Additionally on the DNC Monday evening, Vice President Kamala Harris shocked individuals by briefly talking. She ended her deal with the identical means she’s ending her stump speeches, saying, “Once we battle, we win,” which is a longtime labor slogan.