This week’s Donald Trump interview with Elon Musk on X is facing backlash from auto workers.
The United Auto Workers union filed unfair labor practice charges after the two discussed firing striking workers during their Monday conversation.
“You’re the greatest cutter, they go on strike and you say, ‘That’s OK. You’re all gone,” Trump said about Elon.
UAW filed separate charges against Trump and Musk with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that the men interfered with workers who may want to join a union. In a statement, the UAW wrote, “Under federal law, workers cannot be fired for going on strike, and threatening to do so is illegal.”
The NLRB is investigating the charges. The AP reported that a senior advisor from the Trump campaign called the allegations “frivolous” and a “shameless political stunt.”
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For many politicians trying to gain the labor vote, angering unions does not help their cause.
“Workers are realizing the positive impact unions that fight for them can have on their lives,” said Hayley Brown, research associate at the Center for Economic and Policy Research.
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that about 14.4 million Americans are union members, approximately 10% of the workforce.
While this rate is similar to the previous year, it is significantly lower than in 1983, when one in five workers were unionized.
Unions have recently made some significant gains.
“The victories in strikes and organizing have been inspiring, driven by the frustration accumulated from concessions during the recession and risks taken by workers during COVID. There is a lot of anger, especially among young people who feel uncertain about the future,” said Kate Bronfenbrenner, director of Labor Education Research at Cornell’s ILR School.
Support for unions is relatively high. The most recent Gallup polling shows that about 67% of those surveyed approve of unions. Three out of four sided with the UAW in their recent negotiation, resulting in pay raises of 33%.
Bronfenbrenner notes that strikes and labor movements can be contagious.
“Workers are seeing the positive impact that unions fighting for them can have, giving them a sense of control in their workplace, which is essential for quality of life and economic stability,” she said.
Recent union victories include a new contract for 28,000 flight attendants with American Airlines and a historic wage increase for California Disneyland Resort workers after a significant strike.
In Massachusetts, Uber and Lyft drivers could gain union representation if a ballot measure passes in November.
There have been setbacks as well. Workers at two Alabama Mercedes factories voted against joining the UAW.
However, this came after Volkswagen workers in Tennessee successfully joined the union, marking a significant victory in the South.
“This is new ground for them,” Brown said. “We have also seen major contract wins. When workers witness unions achieving such successes, it prompts them to consider how they could benefit in their own workplaces.”
Despite wins and losses, both Republicans and Democrats are recognizing the political influence of unions.
For the first time, a Teamsters president, Sean O’Brien, was invited to speak at the Republican National Convention.
The AFL-CIO, representing 60 unions and 12.5 million workers, has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.
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