On Thursday, President Joe Biden donned a red United Auto Workers shirt to commemorate a labor agreement that safeguards the Stellantis plant in Belvidere from closure.

He views the preservation of the factory as validation of his choice to stand alongside striking union members in their quest for increased wages.

“American workers are ready to work harder than anyone else,” Biden told autoworkers in a community center in the northern Illinois. “But they just need to be given a shot. A fair shot and a fair wage.”

He commended the union members, describing them as “as tough, tough, tough as they come.” A voice from the audience called out to the president, saying, “That shirt looks good on you.”

In September, Biden made a visit to a UAW picket line in Michigan to show his support for the union during their specific strikes against Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, the manufacturer of Jeep, Dodge, and Ram vehicles, the Associated Press reported.

While the strikes have concluded, contracts are currently in the process of being finalized.

Written by B.C. Begley