Biden, Lula to launch partnership on workers’ rights amid labor strikes in U.S.

President Biden and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will launch the U.S.-Brazil Partnership for Workers’ Rights on Wednesday, with the goals of advancing workers’ rights and stopping worker exploitation.

The focus on workers’ rights from Biden comes as the United Auto Workers began its historic strike against the Big Three automakers Friday, when the sides failed to successfully negotiate a new contract. The Biden administration has been involved with pushing both sides to reach a deal, and Biden has deployed officials to Detroit to help with a solution.

When asked about the timing of the announcement with Brazil amid the automaker strike, as well as the ongoing writers strike, a senior administration official said, “nothing about this initiative should be interpreted as discouraging or limiting the right to strike.”

The partnership will launch Wednesday at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, with the goal to get more global partners on board. Brazil is the initial co-lead because “we have two presidents who are uniquely aligned in their common vision for how the economy should work for workers,” an official said.

Officials said the partnership will be a vehicle for advancing workers’ rights to address challenges such as ending forced labor and child labor; increasing accountability in public and private investments; the clean energy transition and digital transition, including the gig economy. 

It will also be a vehicle for tackling workplace discrimination, particularly for women, LGBTQ peopleand other marginalized racial and ethnic groups, officials outlined.

Biden hosted Lula at the White House in February, a month after Lula’s inauguration.