Politics
Labor Leaders Slam Trump, Tout Democratic Priorities in 2024 Election: ‘It’s All on the Line’
Video: The WTTW News Spotlight Politics team discusses Illinois’ delegation hosting labor leaders and more of the day’s top stories. (Produced by Abena Bediako and Paul Caine)
Labor leaders tried to draw a sharp contrast Wednesday between Democrats and Republicans at the Illinois delegation’s breakfast on the third day of the Democratic National Convention — saying the GOP and Donald Trump aren’t on the side of working people.
International Iron Workers General President Eric Dean, a Chicago native with plenty of Windy City attitude, laid out the stakes in November bluntly — saying Democrats have to keep “the f---ing s-----est president in my lifetime” from returning to the Oval Office.
Dean said when he took his job in the nation’s capital, he saw a stark contrast between the attitude toward labor in Illinois.
“When I went from Chicago to Washington, I found out we don’t have that same mutual respect between labor and elected officials,” Dean said. “I think we have our relevance, and we earn that respect, but we needed to take the things that happen here and make it happen in other places.”
After President Joe Biden announced he was stepping aside in the 2024 race for president, Dean said he got a call from the president within hours, asking for labor to back Vice President Kamala Harris. Dean told the room that union members will leave “no stone unturned” to make that happen.
His comments were echoed by national AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond.
“The American labor movement is going to move heaven and earth to elect every pro-worker Democrat up and down the ballot,” Redmond said. “During this election cycle, we will be putting out the largest ground game in the history of the American labor movement. It’s all on the line.”
Redmond said while labor unions represent workers, they aren’t a special interest group.
“Labor issues are normal issues — and more importantly, they are winning issues,” Redmond said.
At last month’s Republican National Convention, Teamsters President Sean O’Brien raised many eyebrows by addressing a group not traditionally known for being union friendly. At last night’s convention, organizers had a clear rejoinder for that — bringing out a stage full of Teamsters behind U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan) and retired Teamster Kenneth Stribling, a national organizer who’s worked to secure retiree pensions.
“Frankly, I was taken aback” by O’Brien’s appearance, said John Daniel, state central committeeman for the 16th Congressional District and general secretary-treasurer of SMART, the Sheet Metal Air Rail and Transportation Workers. “To go to the RNC and to speak … you’re going against everything, in my opinion, that Biden’s done to shore up the foundation of our retirees and people that have busted their butts to get the pensions.”
Daniel, a first-generation union member, said labor can do more to pull in voters outside Chicago by focusing on issues facing working Illinoisans — arguing that when people feel like they can provide for their family, they’re less likely to vote Republican based on social issues.
Tim Drea, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO, also had some frank words for delegates Wednesday morning: Union workers “get s--t done.” But speaking on “Chicago Tonight” the evening prior, he agreed that the union vote is in play this year.
“The vote is really always up for grabs, and it’s our responsibility to educate union members about the issues,” Drea said. As for what might draw union members to Trump, he said, “I think a lot of times it’s the economy, it’s social issues, it’s guns and things like that. In Illinois, we’re 900,000 members, we’re going to have 900,000 different opinions.”
But Dean told delegates it’s crucial to “finish the job” and get Harris and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz elected — saying he’s confident they’ll address the kinds of issues his members care most about with a pro-labor administration.
“We do focus groups: Jobs and economic opportunity were the No. 1 issues for my members,” Dean said. “The opportunity is working under a collective bargaining agreement and being able to afford different things.”
Contact Nick Blumberg: [email protected] | (773) 509-5434 | @ndblumberg
