Look: Biden makes history by joining UAW picket line

US President Joe Biden endorsed the United Auto Workers' demand for a major wage increase during a visit to a picket line at a General Motors Co. plant in suburban Detroit "-- a historic show of solidarity with organised labour.

The visit comes a day before former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination, also heads to Michigan. The dueling events highlight how the strike and battle for union support have become political flashpoints in the 2024 campaign.

Both candidates are aggressively courting union rank-and-file, who make up a sizable portion of middle-class voters in key swing states, including Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Trump won Michigan in 2016 against Hillary Clinton, but Biden carried the state in 2020 by about 154,000 votes, thanks in part from 62% of the vote from those in a union household.

A Gallup poll conducted in August showed 75 per cent of US adults say they side with the United Auto Workers, 19 per cent with the auto companies. Overall, organized labor enjoys strong support, with 67 per cent approving of unions, down from 71 per cent a year ago but up from an all-time low of 48 per cent in 2009.

The United Auto Workers union went on strike against Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis in November to demand higher pay and better contracts.President Biden has been compelled to intervene in the dispute, which is unfolding in key swing states. Here are scenes of President Biden joining the picket line in Michigan.

US President Joe Biden arrives at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan, U.S., September 26, 2023.

President Joe Biden is greeted by Shawn Fain, President of the United Auto Workers (UAW), Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) as he arrives at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan on September 26, 2023.

US President Joe Biden greets people as he joins striking members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) on the picket line outside the GM's Willow Run Distribution Center, in Bellville, Wayne County, Michigan on September 26, 2023.

Shawn Fain, President of the United Auto Workers (UAW) speaks as US President Joe Biden joins striking members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) on the picket line outside the GM's Willow Run Distribution Center, in Michigan on September 26, 2023.

President Joe Biden joins striking United Auto Workers on the picket line in Van Buren Township, Michigan.

President Joe Biden speaks next to Shawn Fain as he joins striking members of the UAW on the picket line in Michigan.

President Joe Biden addresses striking members of the UAW union at a picket line outside a General Motors Service Parts Operations plant in Michigan.

U.S. President Joe Biden joins striking members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) on the picket line outside the GM's Willow Run Distribution Center, in Bellville, Wayne County, Michigan, U.S., September 26, 2023.

President Joe Biden greets striking United Auto Workers on the picket line in Van Buren Township, Michigan.

Striking members of the UAW hold signs on the day US President Joe Biden joins them on the picket line outside the GM's Willow Run Distribution Center in Michigan.