Posted August 16, 2024 | by KimS | in 2024 Presidential Election, Biden Administration, DemDaily, Democratic Party, Donald Trump

DemDaily: Walzing Labor

August 16, 2024

In his first solo campaign event as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, Democratic Vice Presidential candidate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz gave a rousing speech before one of the nation's most powerful unions Tuesday -- fueling the enthusiasm that has erupted since his selection just eight days ago.

Walz spoke at the 46th International Convention of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which represents over $1.3 million public sector employees and retirees, including health care workers, corrections officers, sanitation workers, police officers, teachers, firefighters, and childcare providers. AFSCME has approximately 3,400 local unions and 58 councils and affiliates in 46 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Walz spoke at the 46th International Convention of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which represents over $1.3 million public sector employees and retirees, including health care workers, corrections officers, sanitation workers, police officers, teachers, firefighters, and childcare providers. AFSCME has approximately 3,400 local unions and 58 councils and affiliates in 46 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

The VP Nominee
Most of the public is still getting to know the two-term Minnesota Governor who served in Congress for five terms before being elected governor in 2018 and reelected in 2022 by 7.7%,

Waltz maintains a 48.5% approval rating in a purple state that Biden won by a 7.12% margin in 2020.

A witty, plain-spoken, and passionate voice, Waltz has earned a reputation as an effective and principled public official, and in 2023 was elected by his fellow governors as Chair of the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), exposing him to national donors.

Walz's brand of progressive patriotism, avuncular bearing, and straightforward political rhetoric, present an ideal foil to GOP Vice Presidential nominee and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance -- whose Ivy League background belies his intolerance with working-class "liberal elites."

Walz's 24 years of National Guard service, for which he received an Army Commendation Medal for heroism or meritorious service. also serve as a counterbalance to Vance's record as a military journalist for the Marine Corps from 2003-2007. Vance has attempted to paint Walz as abandoning his service when Walz left to successfully run for Congress in 2005.

As Minnesota governor, he was a staunch labor advocate, signing pro-worker legislation including paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave. He banned noncompete agreements, prohibited employers from holding mandatory meetings intended to persuade workers against unionizing, raised safety standards in warehouses and meatpacking plants, and guaranteed a minimum wage for rideshare app drivers.

Walz, an educator and high school football coach who taught social studies for 17 years and was a member of the Minnesota Education Association (MEA) teachers union, oversaw sweeping education reform legislation that allocates over $2 billion in special education funding for Minnesota schools, $35 million for reading programs, $200 million in free school lunches, and expanded unemployment benefits to hourly school employees who do not work during the summer.

“We know that when unions are strong, America is strong,” said a fiery Walz. “That's why, as governor, I signed one of the biggest packages of pro-worker policies in history into law. Today, Minnesota is one of the best states for workers in the nation. That’s our vision for the entire country" while the GOP ticket of Trump-Vance have “waged war on working people...The only thing those two guys know about working people is how to work to take advantage of them.”

“We know that when unions are strong, America is strong,” said a fiery Walz. “That's why, as governor, I signed one of the biggest packages of pro-worker policies in history into law. Today, Minnesota is one of the best states for workers in the nation. That’s our vision for the entire country" while the GOP ticket of Trump-Vance have “waged war on working people...The only thing those two guys know about working people is how to work to take advantage of them.”

Introducing Walz before a crowd of 4,000 AFSCME representatives in Los Angeles, President Lee Saunders said the governor has “been there for our members,” securing a historic contract with across-the-board raises for state workers, while expanding their freedoms on the job in Minnesota.

Union members are heavily concentrated in crucial Midwest and Rust Belt swing states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin -- the latter three of which President Joe Biden narrowly won in 2020.

Biden, who prides himself as the "most pro-labor president in history" had the early support of major unions, including AFSCME. Labor's largest umbrella organization, the American Federal of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), which represents 60 national and international labor unions comprising 12.5 million members -- endorsed Biden in June 2023.

After Biden stepped aside from the presidential race on July 21 and endorsed Harris, most of the national unions immediately united behind Harris' campaign, including the AFL-CIO.

The support of labor -- the backbone of electoral organizing -- is crucial to Democrats holding the White House. In addition to turning out hundreds of thousands of their members, the endorsement comes with significant financial resources. In 2020 labor unions contributed over $1 million to the Biden-Harris campaign directly and invested over $26.2 million in outside organizations supporting their election.

Educating union members on Trump's record of attacking their rights, and more prominently on the Biden-Harris Administration's historical accomplishments on behalf of working families, remains a challenge for some labor leaders -- particularly among the more conservative building trades. Union voters are expected to play an outsized role in the election, especially in key battleground states.

Although the AFL-CIO and a majority of labor endorsed Biden in 2020, Donald Trump, who once campaigned as a champion of workers, still secured 40% of the vote in union households compared to Biden's 56%. In 2016, Trump garnered 42% of union households compared to 51% who voted for Hillary Clinton.

Although the AFL-CIO and a majority of labor endorsed Biden in 2020, Donald Trump, who once campaigned as a champion of workers, still secured 40% of the vote in union households compared to Biden's 56%. In 2016, Trump garnered 42% of union households compared to 51% who voted for Hillary Clinton.

Saunders, one of the most compelling and influential labor leaders of his time, announced AFSCME's "Fearless Agenda," a plan to strengthen public services and build worker power, including health and safety standards, mental health services for front-line public service workers, the care economy and protections against the growing threat of heat exposure due to climate change.

Political engagement and electing Harris-Walz is fundamental to its success. “With all the anxiety and uncertainty in the country, we have a responsibility to bring people together around common values,” said Saunders.

Saunders called out Project 2025, Donald Trump’s 900-page plan for his administration, produced by the alt-right Heritage Foundation, which explicitly calls for banning unions of public service workers.

In an interview with billionaire Tesla CEO and X/Twitter owner Elon Musk, which was amusingly delayed by 40 minutes due to a glitch in Musk's own social media site, Trump praised the megalomaniac's mass firing of organizing Twitter employees in late 2022, saying, "you’re the greatest cutter.”

AFSCME will be out in full force for Harris-Walz, conducting major get-out-the-vote efforts in key battleground states, including Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Wisconsin.

“Tim is more than an ally. He understands us because he is one of us – a union brother who spent years as a public service worker in his community. He embodies the very best of public service -- leading with empathy, looking after everyone and leaving behind no one ...He’s a stand-up guy, absolute salt of the earth. And come next January, he will bring his decency and common sense to the White House.” - AFSCME President Lee Saunders

“Tim is more than an ally. He understands us because he is one of us – a union brother who spent years as a public service worker in his community. He embodies the very best of public service -- leading with empathy, looking after everyone and leaving behind no one ...He’s a stand-up guy, absolute salt of the earth. And come next January, he will bring his decency and common sense to the White House.” - AFSCME President Lee Saunders

A notable labor holdout in their support for Harris-Walz is the fiercely independent 1.3 million-member International Brotherhood of Teamsters union, which is expected to make an endorsement after the Democratic convention.

To great controversy, IBT President Sean O’Brien spoke at the Republican convention in Milwaukee two weeks ago, saying "Our members will not be taken for granted." Following the Musk interview, however, O'Brien said, “Firing workers for organizing, striking, and exercising their rights as Americans is economic terrorism.”

The National Black Caucus of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union, however, did not wait for approval from the national, endorsing Harris for the presidency on Tuesday.

Of Harris and Waltz, the caucus said in a statement, “Their records reflect a deep dedication to advancing labor rights and supporting working-class Americans. As a key partner in leading the most pro-labor administration in our lifetimes, Vice President Harris has proven to be a tough and principled fighter for workers’ rights and a leader who delivers on her promises.”

DemList will keep you informed.

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