Friend,

American workers have been hit hard by Donald Trump’s presidency. 

His trade and immigration policies have effectively frozen the labor market. Wages are stagnant, with pay up just .01% since Trump took office. He made 4.3 million workers ineligible for overtime, and also made it easier for employers to misclassify their workers as independent contractors (thereby denying them minimum wage protections, unemployment benefits, and health insurance).

It’s become harder, not easier, to join a union. The number of union elections has fallen by nearly 30%. Without the enforcement of protections from the National Labor Relations Board, corporations are illegally cracking down on worker organizing efforts and keeping wages low. 

Workplace protections have been eroded – Trump’s EEOC Chair discarded critical rules to prevent discrimination, including sexual harassment and workplace discrimination against LGBTQ workers. Next, they plan to get rid of protections against discrimination for workers undergoing fertility treatments.

Thanks to budget cuts to OSHA, there are fewer workplace safety inspections taking place and greater risk of worker exposure to carcinogens. 

I could go on and on. Here’s my point: Trump ran on a platform of standing up for American workers, but since taking office he’s consistently thrown them under the bus. This Labor Day, I think it’s important for Democrats to re-affirm their commitment to fighting for working people. Whether you voted for us in the last election or not, we stand with those who have seen their wages cut, their jobs moved overseas, their workplaces become more dangerous. 

Most importantly, we will continue using every tool we’ve got to fight for them.

Happy Labor Day,

— Jim