President Biden has positioned himself as the most pro-union president in history, a sentiment that was strongly supported by the crowd at the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) conference. The audience booed at the sight of former President Donald Trump and chanted “lock him up” before Biden took the stage. The NABTU endorsement of Biden contrasted him with Trump, who was accused of preferring non-union workers in his real estate projects and appointing “union busters” to the National Labor Relations Board. Major labor unions have endorsed Biden, with the AFL-CIO being one of the first to do so 17 months before the general election.
Over 30 national labor groups, including LiUNA and the United Auto Workers, have endorsed Biden. Exit polling showed that Biden won 56% of union households nationwide, compared to 40% for Trump, nearly double the support that Hillary Clinton received in 2016. Support for organized labor in America is at its highest in decades, with labor unions investing hundreds of millions in voter mobilization programs to support the Democratic ticket. Battleground state chapters like the Culinary Union Local 226 in Nevada played a crucial role in Biden’s narrow victory in 2020.
Labor unions, such as NABTU and the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters, have launched voter mobilization programs targeting members in closely contested states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced a $200 million effort to target working-class voters in battleground states. Labor members at the NABTU conference praised Biden for signing pension reforms and creating union jobs through infrastructure investments. Despite Biden’s many union endorsements, some labor leaders anticipate that a significant portion of organized labor could still support Trump.
Union members expressed concerns about the economy and rising inflation, with some estimating that support for Biden within their unions is around 60%, while 40% support Trump. Biden has made repeated overtures to organized labor, speaking at various labor union conferences and campaigning with union leaders. The Trump campaign argues that voters’ frustration with the economy may prevent Biden from gaining unified support from labor unions. Some unions have also pressured the White House on issues such as Israeli strikes on Gaza, with calls for a cease-fire and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel.
While some union members have expressed concerns about the economy and inflation, others have praised Biden for his support of labor unions. The real battle for Democrats, according to some union leaders, will be addressing issues related to big corporations and price gouging. With seven months until the fall election, labor union engagement in the political process is expected to increase, with a focus on economic issues and support for the most labor-friendly candidate.
