Tom Perez, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, told an audience at the United Steelworkers’ annual convention that he understands and even respects why many in the labor movement voted for President Trump and said his party had to “earn your trust” once again.
“I understand that we are in a divided nation. I understand that in this election many people who voted in the past for Barack Obama or other Democrats decided to vote differently — And I respect those choices,” Perez said, adding later, “I understand the work we have ahead as Democrats: We have to earn your trust.”
Perez, who was secretary of labor under Obama, returned to that theme several times in the speech, saying twice more that “I understand” and throwing in an “I get, I get it” as well.
Trump’s win in November came partly because of his strong support from the labor rank and file, at least compared to past Republican candidates. Nationally, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton beat him by only 8 points among union households, according to exit polls, the smallest advantage for a Democrat since the 1984 president election. That helped Trump to win in Rust Belt states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania where many United Steelworkers members likely hail from. Trump’s win came despite an extensive effort by union leaders to convince their membership that he was not their man.
Perez continued that argument in speech. “I understand why so many people were willing to take a chance on change — and I respect that. But I will tell you that I think the change that I suspect you are looking for is not the change that I would observe you are getting.”
The DNC chief pointed to Trump’s nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court as an action that harmed workers. Perez said the new justice was “poised to make it even harder to organize,” a reference to Supreme Court cases such as last year’s Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, which challenged whether public-sector workers can be forced to join or otherwise support a union.
Labor leaders feared that case could lead to major losses in membership and dues revenue should rank and file members be allowed to opt out. Unions narrowly won the case when the court split 4-4, allowing an earlier ruling to stand. It is widely believed that the late Justice Antonin Scalia, whom Gorsuch replaced, would have voted to overturn the ruling. The split in Friedrichs means that the court can take up a similar case in the future.
