The president and his leading Republican rival are heading to Michigan to address members of the U.A.W., whose political clout is growing.
President Biden’s trip comes a day before former President Donald J. Trump arrives in Michigan, as the two men offer dueling messages to a powerful voting bloc in a key swing state.
The company cited concerns about operating the factory competitively. It’s not clear if the pause is linked to its dispute with the United Auto Workers.
Their responses obscure the nature of the conflict.
Contract talks at an electric vehicle battery plant in Lordstown could have even more of an impact than the autoworkers’ strike on the labor standards of the emerging electric-vehicle industry.
Elon Musk, the Tesla chief executive, may be able to exploit his rivals’ weaknesses, but the United Auto Workers union also has the electric carmaker in its sights.
Fewer Michigan residents work in auto manufacturing than before, but a strike by U.A.W. members is a reminder of what the industry still means to the state.
Autoworkers want, and deserve, a big raise. But they are asking for too much.
Experts on unions and the industry said the U.A.W. strike could accelerate a wave of worker actions, or stifle labor’s recent momentum.
The U.A.W. returned to the bargaining table on Sunday after its president warned, “We’re going to amp this thing up” if the car companies don’t improve their offers.