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Trump and Biden Presidencies: Union Support

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Written by: Administrator

Category: Trump and Biden Presidencies

Published: 14 June 2024

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President Donald Trump and Labor Unions

Policies and Actions:

1. Right-to-Work Laws:

   • Trump supported right-to-work laws, which allow employees to work without being compelled to join or pay dues to a labor union. These laws are generally opposed by unions as they believe they weaken union power and financial stability.

2. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB):

   • Trump appointed members to the NLRB who were generally seen as more business-friendly. His appointees were involved in reversing several pro-union decisions made during the Obama administration, such as those affecting joint employer standards and union elections.

3. Regulatory Rollbacks:

   • The Trump administration rolled back numerous Obama-era regulations that were seen as favorable to workers and unions, including those related to overtime pay and workplace safety.

4. Federal Employee Unions:

   • In May 2018, Trump signed executive orders that made it easier to fire federal employees and limited the amount of time union representatives could spend on union business during work hours, which unions argued undermined their ability to represent workers effectively.

5. Manufacturing Jobs:

   • Trump emphasized bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. and renegotiating trade deals like NAFTA (replaced by USMCA), which he claimed would benefit American workers, including union members. However, the impact on unions was mixed, with some seeing benefits and others facing challenges from automation and other factors.

President Joe Biden and Labor Unions

Policies and Actions:

1. Pro-Union Stance:

   • Biden has openly expressed strong support for labor unions, often stating that unions built the middle class and are essential to rebuilding the economy.

2. Pro Act:

   • Biden supports the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which aims to strengthen labor protections related to employees' rights to organize and collectively bargain. The PRO Act would, among other things, override state right-to-work laws and make it easier for workers to form unions.

3. NLRB Appointments:

   • Biden appointed pro-labor members to the NLRB, reversing many of the Trump-era decisions and implementing rules that favor union activities, such as more streamlined processes for union elections and stricter penalties for companies that violate labor laws.

4. Federal Employees:

   • Biden reversed Trump’s executive orders that restricted federal employees' union activities. He restored collective bargaining rights and protections for federal workers.

5. Infrastructure Plan:

   • Biden's infrastructure proposals, like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, include strong provisions for union labor, ensuring that infrastructure projects use unionized workers and support union-friendly policies like prevailing wage standards.

6. Executive Actions:

   • Biden has signed several executive orders aimed at supporting workers' rights and increasing the minimum wage for federal contractors to $15 per hour, which indirectly supports union objectives by raising wage standards.

Conclusion

• Trump Administration: Generally took a more business-friendly stance that included support for right-to-work laws and rolling back pro-union regulations. His appointments to the NLRB reflected a preference for limiting union power and increasing employer flexibility.

• Biden Administration: Strongly pro-union, advocating for the PRO Act, appointing pro-labor members to the NLRB, reversing Trump's executive orders on federal employees, and incorporating union-supportive measures in his economic plans and infrastructure proposals.

Sources:

• The White House: Trump Administration Accomplishments
• The White House: Biden Administration Labor Policies
• NLRB: Historical Decisions
• Congressional Research Service: Labor Legislation
• News Outlets: Coverage from sources like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and BBC for detailed event reports.