The Detroit 3 automakers are the largest employers of the UAW, accounting for about 150,000 members.
Asked in August whether the White House did not invite Musk because workers at Tesla are not unionized, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said: “I’ll let you draw your own conclusion.”
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have also proposed to give union-made, U.S.-built EVs an additional $4,500 tax incentive, setting up a clash between Tesla and Toyota Motor Corp. on one side and the UAW-affiliated automakers in Detroit on the other.
The proposal would boost the maximum tax credit for these electric vehicles to $12,500 from the current $7,500.
Responding to Musk’s comments, UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada that he should stop whining: “Good leaders aren’t afraid of smart workers but embrace them!”
