A majority of union members voted for Kamala Harris in Tuesday’s election, outpacing 2020 numbers. It didn’t cease Donald Trump from securing the presidency.
“Harris is outperforming 2020 numbers with union members, in keeping with AP Votecast exit knowledge. She’s up 57-39, which tracks with our inside knowledge. Union voters turned out for Harris, that a lot is crystal clear,” posted Steve Smith, deputy director of public affairs on the largest federation of unions within the US, AFL-CIO, on X.
The AFL-CIO reported that unions spoke to three million voters within the lead-up to the election, essentially the most within the federation’s historical past.
A number of US labor unions launched door-knocking operations on behalf of the Harris marketing campaign in swing states. However whereas Harris purportedly noticed a rise in assist from union members, her assist amongst low-income Individuals decreased in contrast with Biden’s in 2020, dropping good points with voters making lower than $50,000 in annual earnings and dropping voters with incomes between $50,000 to $100,000 after Biden received this phase of the voters in 2020.
The United Auto Staff ran one in every of its largest get-out-the-vote campaigns in latest historical past. Unite Right here, which represents about 300,000 hospitality employees, knocked on over 4m doorways in an operation supporting Harris in 10 divided states.
Whereas the Harris marketing campaign obtained endorsements from nearly all of US labor unions, the Teamsters Worldwide withheld an endorsement this election cycle.
US labor unions and employee advocacy teams issued statements on Wednesday expressing disappointment within the end result, whereas reaffirming their intention to proceed to advocate for and defend pro-labor insurance policies as Trump prepares to take workplace with a Republican majority within the Senate – the Home outcomes stay excellent.
“Whatever the political panorama, we are going to proceed to talk in truth in regards to the situations that foster actual financial development and equality, and we are going to press ahead with insurance policies that empower all employees, shield essentially the most weak, and maintain firms accountable for his or her influence on our financial system and society,” stated Rebecca Dixon, president and CEO of the Nationwide Employment Regulation Venture.
“We aren’t defeated, we’re decided. And we received’t again down. We stay united to one another and to our imaginative and prescient for a wholesome, joyful and affluent future. And we’re not going to let anybody divide us primarily based on racism, sexism or worry,” April Verrett, president of Service Workers Worldwide Union (SEIU) stated.
The union represents about 2 million employees within the US and ran a $200m election marketing campaign supporting Harris and down-ballot candidates.
“Our name was to rally a robust, multiracial voting bloc, and that’s what we did. We labored tirelessly, regardless of the voter suppression and structural limitations which have come to outline our political system. And I’ll be sincere, right this moment is tough, however I’m holding on to hope,” Jessica Bolmer, a house care employee in Illinois and SEIU member, stated in an announcement to union members.
UMAW will proceed to struggle for fairness, truthful pay, and dignity for ALL employees, together with musicians. Along with your assist, we are going to proceed to construct collective energy, win campaigns, shield marginalized employees, and encourage solidarity throughout the music trade. pic.twitter.com/yLik48UV7M
— United Musicians and Allied Staff (@UMAW_) November 6, 2024
Some labor unions issued congratulations to Trump on the win whereas supporting bipartisan efforts to again their coverage efforts.
“Congratulations to President-elect Trump. ALPA stands able to work with the president-elect and the newly elected Congress on persevering with our nation’s essential efforts to maintain flying secure and advancing the piloting occupation,” the Air Line Pilots Affiliation, which represents about 78,000 pilots within the US and Canada, stated in an announcement. “ALPA is pleased with our pilot-partisan agenda that focuses on training about ALPA points and constructing relationships on each side of the aisle so as to enhance the lives of pilots and advance aviation security.”
Labor unions did see some good points. Unions backed the Arizona US Senate candidate Ruben Gallego, who outperformed Harris within the state and is at present main as outcomes are nonetheless being tallied. However the Ohio senator Sherrod Brown misplaced his bid for re-election regardless of robust union backing.
In Missouri, voters authorised a union-backed poll initiative to lift the state’s minimal wage to $15 an hour by January 2026, and supply paid sick go away to employees at giant employers. And voters in Alaska authorised a poll measure to extend the state minimal wage to $15 an hour by 2027, although a poll initiative in California to lift the minimal wage to $18 an hour is anticipated to come back up quick.
“This victory wouldn’t have been doable with out over a decade of low-wage employees organizing for $15 and a union. Many people have been on this struggle collectively for years, on the strike line and within the streets,” stated Fran Marion, a fast-food employee in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, and a longtime organizer with Combat for $15 and Combat for a Union.
Learn extra of the Guardian’s 2024 US election protection