Local 455 Endorses Harris-Walz After Review of Labor Records

Teamsters Local 455 on Wednesday endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz for President and Vice President in the 2024 Presidential election. This recommendation was based on the work of the Teamsters Local 455 Political Field Committee, comprised of rank-and-file Teamsters Local 455 members. The committee conducted a thorough review of the Democratic and Republican candidates' labor policy positions and their effects on working men and women and their families. (To see the official endorsement, click here.) 

Here's a summary of the Committee's findings:

Kamala Harris Labor Record

Kamala Harris, as Vice President of the United States and previously as a U.S. Senator from California and Attorney General of California, has had a mostly favorable record on labor policies.

As Attorney General of California (2011-2017) -- Labor Enforcement

Positive

• Harris' office took steps to address wage theft. Her administration supported efforts to investigate and prosecute cases where employers were not paying workers the wages they were owed.
• Harris' office was involved in protecting workers' rights, including taking legal action against companies that violated labor laws.
• Harris' office engaged in outreach and education efforts to inform workers about their rights and how to report labor violations. This included partnerships with labor organizations and community groups to better address workers' concerns.
• Harris supported and advocated for legislation aimed at strengthening labor protections and improving working conditions, aligning with her broader commitment to workers’ rights.

Criticism

• Critics have argued that the effectiveness and impact of actions against labor violations were sometimes limited. There were concerns about the scale and depth of investigations and prosecutions.
• Some labor advocates criticized Harris for her handling of high-profile labor law cases. There were concerns about the outcomes of investigations and whether they sufficiently addressed issues within certain industries.
• Some labor unions and workers’ advocates felt that Harris's approach did not always align with their priorities or address their concerns.
• Harris faced challenges in balancing the interests of businesses with the need for strong labor enforcement. Critics argued that her actions were cautious in order not to antagonize business interests.

As U.S. Senator (2017-2021)

• Support for Workers' Rights:
  • Harris was a strong supporter of the Raise the Wage Act, advocating for increasing the Federal Minimum wage to $15 an hour.
  • Harris was a co-sponsor of the FAMILY Act which aimed to provide paid family and medical leave to workers
  • Harris advocated for stronger enforcement of workplace safety regulations and supported measures to prevent wage theft and ensure fair working conditions
• Pro-Labor Legislation: She co-sponsored the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which aims to strengthen labor unions, makes it easier for workers to unionize, and enhances protections against employer retaliation.
• Worker Protection Laws: Harris also worked on legislation to protect gig economy workers and address issues such as wage theft. She supported measures to ensure that gig workers have access to better labor protections and benefits.
• Equality and Anti-Discrimination: She advocated for policies aimed at addressing wage gaps and improving workplace equality, particularly for women and minorities.

As Vice President (2021-Present)

• Support for the PRO Act: The PRO Act remains a priority for Harris as Vice President. The Biden administration, with Harris as a prominent supporter, has pushed for its passage to enhance workers' rights and union protections.
• COVID-19 Response: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Biden administration, with Harris's support, focused on protecting workers through initiatives like increasing access to paid sick leave, providing personal protective equipment (PPE), and ensuring safer workplace conditions.
• Economic Agenda: Harris has been involved in the economic agenda of the Biden administration, which includes measures aimed at increasing job creation, improving worker benefits, and investing in infrastructure and green energy, which are expected to create new job opportunities.
• Labor Standards: The Biden administration, including Harris, has promoted increased labor standards and enforcement, particularly in industries like fast food and healthcare.

Donald Trump Labor Record

Donald Trump's record on labor policies during his administration includes a mix of deregulation, tax reform and changes to trade agreements.

Deregulation

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Regulations

• Beryllium Standard: The Trump administration made changes to a rule on beryllium, a toxic metal. The changes reduced the compliance burden on certain industries but were criticized for weakening protections for workers exposed to beryllium.
• Recordkeeping Requirements: Changes were made to recordkeeping requirements for workplace injuries and illnesses that required certain employers to electronically submit detailed injury and illness data to OSHA.

Wage and Hour Division (WHD) Regulations

• Overtime Rule: The Trump administration revised an overtime rule, which expanded eligibility for overtime pay by raising the salary threshold for exemption. The new rule increased the threshold from $23,660 to $35,568.
• Tip Pooling: The Trump administration reversed a rule that restricted tip pooling arrangements where employers could collect tips from employees and redistribute them among other workers. The Trump rule allowed employers to collect tips and use them for non-tipped employee wages, provided the company did not take a share of the tips.

Labor Relations

• Joint Employer Standard: The Trump administration rolled back the definition of "joint employer". The revised rule made it more difficult for workers to hold multiple employers responsible for labor violations, which impacted companies that share or jointly control workers.

Employee Benefits

• Affordable Care Act (ACA) Regulations: The Trump administration modified rules around preventive care and flexibility in plans, which impacted employer-sponsored health insurance plans.

Union Regulations

• Union Elections: Changes were made to rules around union elections. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) implemented rules that extended the time for conducting union elections, potentially making it harder for unions to win representation elections.

Tax Reform

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 lowered corporate tax rates. Supporters claimed it would lead to increased business investment and job creation and critics argued that there is no evidence that decreased taxes lead to investment or job creation.

Trade Policies

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) replaced NAFTA and aimed at improving labor standards in Mexico. Trump's administration also implemented tariffs on various imports, which were intended to protect American jobs.

Union Relations 

Trump appointed pro-business individuals to key positions and often spoke against the influence of unions in politics and business.

• Alex Acosta – Secretary of Labor (2017-2019)
  • Former U.S. Attorney and Dean of the Florida International University College of Law, served as Secretary of Labor.
  • He implemented some regulatory changes, like rolling back Obama-era regulations. He is considered to have a cautious approach to labor enforcement.
  • He was known to have a focus on expanding apprenticeships and job training programs.
• Peter Robb – General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) (2017-2021)
  • Pro-Business Attorney
  • He pursued policies to roll back expansions of worker rights and union protections by making it harder for workers to organize and reducing the rules on joint employer responsibilities.
• William Emanuel – NLRB Member (2017-2023)
  • Management-side labor lawyer
  • He was seen as limiting the power of labor unions and altering the interpretation of labor laws in ways that benefited employers.

Executive Orders

 Trump issued several executive orders affecting labor policies, including efforts to promote apprenticeship programs and support for "right-to-work" laws.

• Executive Order 13845 (2018) – “Expanding Apprenticeships in America.” The order aimed to increase the availability and effectiveness of apprenticeship programs in the U.S. by expanding opportunities and improving the quality of these programs.
• Executive Order 13836 (2019) – “Establishing a Paid Family Leave Program for Federal Employees.” This order provided up to 12 weeks of paid family leave for federal employees.
• Executive Order 13894 (2019) – “Promoting Accountability and Streamlining Removal Procedures Consistent with Merit System Principles.” This order aimed to streamline procedures for removing federal employees, making it easier for agencies to dismiss workers.
• Executive Order 13964 (2020) – “Improving the Economic Security of American Workers.” This implemented measures to improve economic security for workers, including increasing transparency in job postings and enhancing protections for gig workers.