Biden joins striking auto workers in a first for US president

Michigan President Joe Biden became the first sitting United States president to stand on a picket line on Tuesday, joining striking auto workers in Michigan in a bold pitch for blue-collar votes against likely election rival Donald Trump.

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Wearing a United Auto Workers UAW) union baseball cap, the Democrat used a bullhorn to tell red-shirted employees that they deserved a hell of a lot more than what you're getting”.

His short but symbolic trip came a day before Republican former president Trump was set to visit Michigan, the historic heart of the US car industry and a key battleground for the 2024 election campaign.

“They’re doing incredibly well and guess what, you should be doing incredibly well too,” Mr Biden said to cheers from placard-waving union members.

Mr Biden urged automakers Ford, General Motors and Stellantis to step up for us”.

He then shook hands with union workers, closely watched by Secret Service agents, and agreed when asked if employees should get a 40 per cent pay increase.

“It meant a lot,” said Ms Carolyn Nippa, 51, an inventory control employee at the GM plant after she fist-bumped the US President.

“It’s very historic.”

The auto workers strike that began on Sept 15 has increasingly become a political football for Mr Biden and Trump as they head for a probable rematch in 2024.