Biden claims labor approval, but members worry about Trump’s ‘hardline’ support

Washington — President Biden has often called himself “the most pro-union president in history,” and a ballroom full of Labor Party members on Wednesday needed no more convincing.

In a video before Biden’s speech, a crowd at a meeting of the North American Building and Construction Union (NABTU) sees former President Donald Trump chanting “Lock him up!”

“Donald Trump is incapable of running anything,” NABTU president Sean McGarvey said in a video the union announced in support of Mr Biden.

Contrasting himself with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Biden said that “Trump prefers non-union workers in his real estate projects,” adding that his predecessor had arranged for the National Labor Relations Board to be a “union buster.”

Almost all major unions support Biden. The AFL-CIO board, which represents 60 unions with more than 12 million members, first endorsed him last June, 17 months before the election.

More than 30 national organized labor groups have endorsed Biden, including LiUNA, a construction workers union with many Latino and black members, and the United Auto Workers (UAW). Many supported Mr. Biden in 2020; Exit polls show him winning 56 percent of the nation’s union households, compared to Trump’s 40 percent, nearly double the support of 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

US support for organized labor reaches peak in decades Some groups have announced voter mobilization plans to support Democratic votes and received hundreds of millions of dollars in investment support.

Battleground state chapters like the Nevada Culinary Alliance Local 226 provided a grassroots network crucial to Biden’s narrow 2020 victory. This fall, its members will begin canvassing in August and September, a pre-election sprint.

NABTU, which has more than 3 million members, will fund an eight-figure voter mobilization program targeting more than 250,000 members in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which are expected to be hotly contested states. The United Plumbers and Pipefitters, which has more than 375,000 members, has launched a member-to-member ad campaign praising Biden’s agenda.

In March, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which has more than 2 million members, announced it would spend $200 million to target more than 6 million working-class voters in battleground states through roundtables, digital and mail advertising and canvassing.

SEIU Secretary-Treasurer April Verrett called the plan a “down payment for an investment in the future of working people” and said the union has contacted more than 1 million voters so far.

Labor members who spoke to CBS News at the NABTU conference praised Biden’s signature legislation, including pension reform in the 2021 American Rescue Plan and union jobs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. They called Biden “one of us” and said they felt they had a true ally in the White House.

Although the president has the support of many unions, labor leaders still hope that a large portion of organized workers may support Trump.

Labor members said Wednesday they believe the rematch between Biden and Trump will be “extremely close” and that they’ve heard union members in their communities express anger about continued inflation and the rising cost of living.

James Rapp, a member of the United Central Pennsylvania Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, said his community is “pessimistic” about the economy and inflation. He estimates that Biden’s support among his unions is about 60% and Trump’s is about 40%.

Denver sheet metal worker John Alvino praised the infrastructure bill for bringing new construction projects to his district, saying that given Trump’s strong support in his constituency, he is “concerned in some way” about Biden’s chances of re-election.

“He is a cult figure. I think some members of the construction trades and unions are putting evangelical issues, gun issues and other things as personal considerations before their paychecks,” Alvino said. Federally funded projects are “offsetting” some economic setbacks.

Biden made several recommendations for organized labor during the campaign. Last week, he spoke at United Steelworkers headquarters in Pittsburgh and two union meetings in Washington, DC.

“I came up with the line: ‘You go home with the people who took you to the prom.’ He told the Pittsburgh Steelers last Wednesday.

He campaigned in Detroit with UAW President Sean Fein. FebruaryIn September 2023, he stood on a picket line with UAW members – the first time a sitting US president had done so.

“Unions and their iconic organizing power will be critical to mobilizing voters this November,” said Biden campaign spokeswoman Mia Ehrenberg, adding that their support will build on the campaign’s success in defeating Trump this fall.

But the Trump campaign says voter frustration with the economy means union support for Biden won’t translate into unified support for Biden.

When asked for comments, Dr. shared the campaign https://twitter.com/Brick_Suit/status/1783521584155902167 Members of the Video Union expressed their support after Trump’s speech Visit a construction site in New York City Before his ongoing hush money trial, one activist said he would tell Biden to “fuck you.”

“While Joe Biden has the support of union bosses who automatically back Democrats every election cycle, President Trump has struggled to win the unwavering support of these unions,” said Trump campaign spokeswoman Carolyn Leavitt, who is proud of the fervent support of hard workers.”

Some unions and their local chapters have also pressed the White House on Israel’s attack on Gaza.

In January, SEIU President Mary Kay Henry issued a statement calling for an immediate cease-fire. SEIU reportedly signed a letter to the White House in April calling on the United States to freeze military aid to Israel until the embargo on humanitarian aid is lifted. The New York Times.

In February, Washington state’s largest union supported UFCW 3000, an effort to urge voters to vote against Biden in the Democratic primary as a protest vote. But a representative said Thursday that the union is “committed to supporting Biden, the most labor-friendly candidate in this election.”

And many local union chapters and student union groups signed a letter this month in solidarity with student activists participating in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.

Biden, who has called for a cease-fire in Gaza, signed a bill Wednesday to provide more aid to Israel.

But few believe that labor members are already deeply involved in the fall election — seven months “seems like an eternity,” noted Culinary Union Local 226 secretary-treasurer Ted Papageorge.

“They just weren’t tuned in,” he said. “Democrats need to look at the economy and prices. Now the real battle is who we’re dealing with here: these big corporations and price gouging. I think you’re going to hear it.”