Election aftermath: Labor held the line

Some parts of Democrats’ traditional coalition may have broken ranks in Kamala Harris’ loss to Donald Trump, but organized labor stayed true, nationally and in Illinois.

Labor supported Harris at a level comparable to Biden’s 2020 victory over Trump – 54% to 43%, Four years ago, Biden finished with 56%; in 2016 Clinton has 51%.

“The labor movement put together probably its most expansive [campaign] program overall, and it had results,” said Jimmy Williams Jr., the head of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.

In Illinois, “We had a very aggressive member-to-member program and had success throughout the state,” said Tim Drea, President of the Illinois AFL-CIO.

Indeed, the state legislature should maintain labor-friendly Democrats’ supermajority in Springfield (78-40 in the House and 40-19 in the Senate), according to the Associated Press’ election results.

Nationally, Trump exaggerated the condition of the economy and claimed he’d bring down prices. But he was vague except for pledging to institute tariffs, which would affect imports’ prices, so such increases will be passed on to consumers, who’d bear that burden. Further, Presidents have little power to control prices, compared to the independent Federal Reserve and to corporations that have been price-gouging since the pandemic.

Still, many “voted for their wallets,” Drea said, noting, “All our political offices stressed kitchen-table issues, bread-and-butter issues.”

Labor’s conventional outreach efforts were effective, but turnout – especially in swing states – was disappointing, according to Illinois AFL-CIO Political Director Bill Looby, who told the Labor Paper that union efforts were successful in Illinois.

“We were strong in many county races, in statewide offices, and in keeping the state’s Congressional delegation overwhelmingly Democratic,” Looby said.

Mentioning U.S. Reps. Eric Sorensen and Nikki Budzinski, Looby added, “We knew where the hot spots were and concentrated on turnout there.”

Organized labor now must remain engaged and vigilant.

In Illinois, “There’s a couple of fears,” commented Jason Lee, senior adviser to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “One is implementing a plutocracy, upward redistribution, governing on behalf of billionaires and not for everyday working people, which is what the mayor’s vision is based on.

“The other fear, obviously, is the authoritarian impulses,” Lee continued. “The enemy within. Going after political dissidents. Curtailing freedom of speech, freedom of movement. Curtailing rights as it pertains to women.”

Trump could upend:

* law enforcement by sending National Guard troops into some neighborhoods and replacing key personnel at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, affecting prosecutions for gun crimes;

* women’s health care by following through on some federal legislators’ idea for national restrictions;

* climate and environment by restricting efforts to meet climate goals and to reduce emissions, and

* immigration  by deporting millions of undocumented immigrants, including an estimated 400,000 in the state – some of whom are working in the agriculture, health and hospitality sectors.

 

A Trump administration with loyalists replacing nonpartisan staffers also could take aim as federal support for ongoing building projects, including the expansion of O’Hare airport and the extension of the CTA’s Red Line.

Statewide, Gov. Pritzker’s administration is determined to persevere. On Nov. 7, Pritzker said, “To anyone who intends to come take away the freedom and opportunity and dignity of Illinoisans, I would remind you that a happy warrior is still a warrior.

“You come for my people, you come through me.”