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The lack of a labor response to Mr. Trump contrasts significantly with labor’s response to the crisis precipitated when Ronald Reagan fired air traffic controllers in 1981. Solidarity Day brought upward of 260,000 union members and allies to Washington in September 1981 to call for workers to fight against the Reagan domination of the working class. It did not stop the decline of the labor movement, but it did help Democrats to significantly expand their House majority in the 1982 midterms. To survive the Trump onslaught, organized labor must rise to the moment. First, it must go outside of union protocol by calling out labor leaders such as Mr. O’Brien. Until unionists take back the narrative of resistance, many in the larger liberal coalition will think that unions are much more supportive of Mr. Trump than they actually are. Second, unions must get their own members engaged in issues that interact with politics. That includes much more political education, not just around candidates at election time but also on issues that matter now. For decades, many unions have shied away from discussing divisive issues (such as immigration) with their members. For some, this is a realistic response to the fact that unions means less than other political beliefs to many members. But when unions talk to their members about politics only at election time, it leads to a disconnect between rhetoric and action that causes many members to tune out. Third, unions must step into the vacuum that millions of Americans feel when it comes to their economic lives. The hopelessness many people feel on economic issues — like the shuttering of factories and inflation — has led to working-class support for Mr. Trump. But it has also led to a surge in support for unions in this country. Most people believe the system is broken and are looking for someone to fix it. Unions can provide that leadership. Unions love to talk about how workers have the ultimate power; they can withhold their labo…
sep 1, 2025, 1:37 pm • 2 0

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