OPINION:
Labor union bosses are again showing that they are no friend to conservatives. Republicans shouldn’t fall for their tricks.
In an X Spaces discussion earlier this month with entrepreneur Elon Musk, former President Donald Trump made a quip suggesting that employees at one of Mr. Musk’s companies could be fired if they went on strike.
“They go on strike and you say, ‘That’s OK, you’re all gone,’” Mr. Trump said.
Within hours, the United Auto Workers responded to the comment by filing federal labor charges against both men, asserting that the words constituted “illegal attempts to threaten and intimidate workers” under the National Labor Relations Act.
The real intimidation tactic, of course, is coming from the UAW itself. Americans, including candidates for political office, have a right to free speech. But in an attempt to scare off dissent, the UAW and other labor unions have made a habit of filing federal charges against Republicans who choose to profess an opinion that differs from theirs about union activities.
Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, a Trump ally, got the same treatment last year.
“I think Ronald Reagan gave us a great example when federal employees decided they were going to strike. He said, you strike, you’re fired. Simple concept to me. To the extent that we can use that once again, absolutely,” Mr. Scott told supporters at a campaign rally.
The UAW swiftly filed unfair labor practice charges against Mr. Scott with the National Labor Relations Board, which dismissed the complaint weeks later. The similarly baseless charges brought against Mr. Trump may eventually be dismissed as well. Still, the UAW’s strategy provides a clear message to conservatives: Speak out against any part of our agenda, and we will send the federal government after you.
The response by the UAW bosses, who had already endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign for president, clearly shows them to be an enemy to conservatives. And they aren’t the only ones.
Sean O’Brien, the Teamsters boss Mr. Trump invited to speak at the Republican National Convention, threw Mr. Trump under the bus as well. In a statement to Politico Playbook, Mr. O’Brien used even more extreme language than the UAW, describing Mr. Trump’s statement on X Spaces as “economic terrorism.”
The Teamsters’ opposition to conservatives has never been a secret. They gave more than 97% of their political donations to Democrats in the previous election cycle, and they back the full suite of Democratic Party-approved opinions, including “woke” climate policies and abortion on demand.
Despite this, a small number of Republicans have made the mistake of embracing labor unions in recent years. For example, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri received a $5,000 donation from the Teamsters four days after he voted against conservatives on a bill to overturn the Biden administration’s Teamsters-supported “joint employer rule.” Mr. Hawley has also cozied up to the UAW, going so far as to walk the picket lines with the rank and file last year.
The push to draw Republicans into the arms of union bosses is driven in part by American Compass, a progressive organization that is funded by deep-pocketed left-wing donors such as the Omidyar Network Fund and the Hewlett Foundation. While associating with Republicans and claiming to be part of the “new right,” American Compass advocates progressive labor policies such as sectoral bargaining and for organized labor in general. This message has rightfully been tossed aside by most conservatives who continue to advocate for the rights of individual workers instead. But a few legislators still need a reality check.
This latest betrayal by Mr. O’Brien should put the final nail in the coffin for any Republican’s faith that perhaps union bosses will finally change their ways and genuinely come to the table. The bosses at the Teamsters, the UAW and other large labor unions have no interest in moving toward the political center or coming to the table with Republicans on issues that matter. Their only goal is to play both political parties against each other to score benefits for themselves at the expense of workers and taxpayers.
Republicans ought to know that embracing labor unions will bring them no benefits because union bosses are no friend to Republicans. Where I come from, friends don’t bring frivolous federal charges against friends.
• Rowan Saydlowski is federal affairs coordinator at Americans for Tax Reform.
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