Donald Trump returns to the White House because he earned the overwhelming support of working-class voters, of every ethnicity, race, and geography. Trump did not score this working-class support by accident. Instead, he earned their trust because he understands them. He stands for workers’ independence, flexibility, and opportunity.
In contrast, President Biden and Kamala Harris always cater to politicized, corrupt union bosses, to the detriment of the hardworking Americans they claim to represent. In fact, Biden’s presidency unfolded as a masterclass in prioritizing union power and political leverage over the real needs of American workers and rank-and-file union members.
For career politicians like Biden, Harris, and Pelosi, their only calculus is raw political power, meaning they broker deals with Big Labor just to influence the next election. Meanwhile, advocating for actual rank-and-file workers takes a backseat.
For example, the Biden administration exploited the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to stack the deck in favor of union bosses – and pushed legislation like the PRO Act to undermine worker autonomy. See the specifics…
- Supporting Union Bosses Over Workers’ Freedom - Amazon workers voted against unionizing, but Biden cheered on union organizers, regardless – disrespecting the clear will of workers.
- Weaponizing the NLRB - Biden’s NLRB brought back the “blocking charge” rule—a shady tactic used by union chieftains to delay decertification elections indefinitely with bogus complaints. If union workers vote out organizers who no longer represent their interest, that decision must be implemented, as it was during Trump’s first term.
- Crushing Worker Autonomy with the PRO Act - The PRO Act is a union boss’s dream and a worker’s nightmare. It resurrects “card check” unionization, eliminating the private ballot and opening the door to coercion and intimidation.
- Turning a Blind Eye to Union Corruption - Unions like the UAW have been riddled with corruption scandals that rob workers of their agency. Instead of holding these unions accountable, President Biden doubled down on empowering compromised leadership.
- Ignoring Worker Needs During Strikes - During the railway labor dispute, President Biden stepped in to enforce a union-backed deal that ignored workers’ demands for paid sick leave. During UAW strikes, President Biden once again stood with union leaders, leaving workers to bear the cost.
- Killing the Gig Economy - Biden’s push to reclassify gig workers as employees is a direct attack on worker flexibility and innovation. Millions of Americans who drive for Uber or freelance by choice face losing their independence under Democrat plans to compel unionization through reclassification.
American Workers Want Opportunity, Not Union Control
The modern American worker rightly demands higher wages, and also independence and individual opportunity. American workers understand the economic reality of a rising tide of growth that rewards both management and working-class citizens.
Unfortunately, Biden and his allies in union leadership remain mired in a narrow zero-sum mindset that falsely pits workers against companies. But American workers know well that they experienced success during the first Trump term, and yearn for a return to broad prosperity.
Trump’s Plan: Workers First, Union Tricks Last
Trump will re-tool the NLRB and Department of Labor to support workers, not entitled and politicized union officials. He will eliminate the blocking charge rule, ensuring workers can hold decertification votes without interference. Workers deserve the right to choose their representation, free from union tricks and delays.
Trump will also crack down on corruption, holding union leaders accountable. Corruption scandals, like those within the UAW, reveal an ingrained culture that abuses workers, for the self-aggrandizement of a small “club” of union honchos. So, Trump’s administration will implement stricter oversight and transparency requirements for unions, ensuring workers that their hard-earned dues are spent effectively.
Trump will also bring labor law into the 21st century by creating a third category of laborer: the “gig worker.” The outdated system of classifying everyone as either an independent contractor or an employee no longer reflects how Americans work.
For instance, companies like Uber want to award gig workers benefits proportional to their time worked—like covering 25% of healthcare for someone who spends 25% of their time driving. But current laws prevent that kind of flexible benefit by forcing companies to treat gig workers as full employees if they provide any benefits at all, a nonsensical edict.
A hybrid model benefits everyone: companies can support workers without breaking their business models, and workers keep the independence they value. Such agreements between companies and workers represent good policies, and just plain common sense.
From his decades working with unions as a developer, Trump knows better than anyone the value of strong, productive private-sector unions. When private-sector unions operate with effectiveness and transparency, all of America benefits. Simultaneously, when economic policy respects workers’ choices, and ensures their independence and flexibility, we build a more just and prosperous society.
Steve Cortes is former senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance, former commentator for Fox News and CNN, and president of the League of American Workers, a populist pro-laborer advocacy group.
