President biden i want to talk very briefly about the auto strike and the contract negotiations between United Auto Workers and the big three. I have been in touch with both parties since this began. Over the last few weeks and past decade Auto Companies have seen record profits including the last few years because of sacrifices to u. A. W. Workers. Those profits have not been shared fairly in my view with those workers just as the Treasury Department released a report pointing out how unions are good for Union Workers and nonUnion Workers and to the overall economy. They increase Home Ownership and Retirement Savings and access to critical benefits like sick leave and child care all of which strengthen our economy for all workers. Thats because unions and entire and pushing wages and expanding benefits. A strong union is critical in growing the economy and growing from the middle out, bottom up and not the top down and that is especially true as we transition into a clean energy future. I believe that should be fair and winwin for auto workers and Auto Companies and i also believe in the contract agreement must lead to a vibrant made in America Future that promotes good middle class jobs that workers can raise a family on. U. A. W. Remains at the heart of our economy and the big three Companies Lead in innovation, excellence, quality and last night after negotiations broke down u. A. W. Announced a targeted strike at the big three auto plants. Lets be clear, no one wants to strike. Say it again, no one wants a strike. But i respect them to exercise their rights. I understand the workers frustrations. Auto workers fought to keep industry strong. Workers deserve a fair share of the benefits. Workers deserve a fair share of the benefits. I do appreciate that the parties have been working around the clock and my first call on the first day of negotiation i said please stay at the table as long as you can to work this out and they have been around the clock and company made significant offers but it should go further. Record contracts, record corporate profits which they have should be shared for record contracts for the u. A. W. We need labor agreements for our future. Its my hope that the parties can return to the negotiation table to forge a winwin agreement. And two members of my team are going to detroit. Acting labor secretary julie su and another. Both of them have been involved to offer their full support for the parties in reaching a contract. The bottom line is that auto workers help create americas middle class and deserve a contract that sustains them in the middle class. Thank you very much. Thats all im going to say. Reporter should hunter get a