Professor John Logan Commented on Various Union-Related News Stories in Major News Outlets

Author: LFCoB
November 30, 2024

Department Chair and Professor of Labor and Employment Studies, John Logan, commented on Trump’s new era of labor power in AXIOS.

Currently, the U.S. is experiencing a winning era for workers and unions. However, there might be a chance that this momentum could come to an end under President-elect Trump. Donald Trump, during his first term, was widely recognized as an anti-worker leader, appointing individuals with anti-union views on the National Labor Relations Board and Department of Labor. Interestingly, though 54% of union workers voted Democratic in this election, it wasn’t enough to secure a victory for the candidate. Professor Logan explained that at least 60% of the union vote is typically needed for a candidate to win, saying, “Democrats typically need 60% of the union vote to win presidential elections.”

Despite Trump’s anti-union stance during his first term, there is hope that his second-term administration may adopt a warmer attitude toward the unions. Republicans expressed their desire to be the party of working people. Teamsters president Sean O'Brien remarked, "The Republicans, under the leadership of Donald Trump, indicated throughout the campaign that they want to be the party of working people. The campaign is over. It's time for Republicans to show up for American workers and American unions."

In addition, Professor Logan was invited as a guest speaker on the live broadcast “Election Night Watch Party” on KALW, Bay Area public radio, where he commented on and analyzed the election results.

Logan participated in an episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, where he shared his thoughts on why large corporations often hold anti-union views. Professor Logan identified three factors contributing to this stance, “Economics, the obsession with unilateral control of the workplace that’s especially strong in the United States, and this sort of ideological belief that unions are bad for business and only companies that deserve them will get a union.” Additionally, Logan highlighted the importance of youth in the union movement, stating, “Young people are energised, enthusiastic, optimistic and attracted to labour issues in a way that’s never been true in my lifetime in the 25 years I’ve been studying unions in the US.” Logan expressed his optimism that such engagement of young people will have a positive outcome on union organizing in the United States.

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