Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02) joined Varney and Co. on Fox Business to discuss the ongoing negotiations between the UAW and GM, its impact on the economy, and the USMCA. Below is the video of the interview as well as key quotes from Congressman Huizenga.
On whether the federal government should get involved: No, I don’t think that should be the case. I believe that this is a private sector discussion and debate that needs to happen. We are cognizant of the effects, there are definitely some head winds. It appears everyone is negotiating in good faith. … We need to be very careful about the federal government coming in and bigfooting this. No doubt, if they have come to an impasse they (the federal government) can help move it forward and maybe help negotiations and clarify, but I don’t think we are at that point yet.
On impact of the strike in West Michigan: We have reached out to a number of suppliers that supply GM, in West Michigan that is one of our big industries. I’ve tried to reach out to the local UAW. I have a plant in my district that has 800 union line workers and another 206 salaried, so there are real effects happening in Michigan. … Our suppliers are kind of mixed. Some of them are really afraid as they have slowed down and had to lay people off voluntarily that they may not be able to keep doing that voluntarily and they would have to do layoffs. At which point, they (the employees) would go into other industries.
On the how the USMCA impacts UAW Workers: We need to pass USMCA because it increases the U.S. content of North American made cars.
On Speaker Pelosi delaying the USMCA because it would give President Trump a win: I absolutely think that is the case.
