US President Joe Biden has sided with workers who have gone on strike in a pay dispute with three of America’s biggest car-makers.

Nearly 13,000 staff walked off the job on Friday at three plants owned by General Motors, Ford and Stellantis.

The firms and the United Auto Workers union (UAW) are fighting over terms of new labour agreements.

In remarks on Friday, Mr Biden said “no-one” wanted industrial action, but he understood worker frustration.

“Workers deserve a fair share,” he said. “The companies have made some significant offers, but I believe it should go further to ensure record corporate profits mean record contracts.”

Existing labour contracts expired on Thursday, precipitating the walkout. Though currently limited, the strike is the first in union history to target all three companies at once.

The UAW, which represents more than 140,000 workers at the firms, has also warned it may widen the walkout, depending on how talks proceed.

The union is seeking a 40% pay rise over the four years of the contract, among other demands, far more than the roughly 20% that the companies have currently put on the table.