Unions United: The Benefits of Bipartisan Political Engagement

Unions United: The Benefits of Bipartisan Political Engagement
Photo by Xavier von Erlach / Unsplash

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of union members working with political parties in a more impartial and unbiased way. Rather than automatically aligning with one party or candidate, these union members are taking a more thoughtful and analytical approach to political engagement.

One example of this is the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, which has traditionally been aligned with the Democratic party. However, in recent years, the UAW has made a concerted effort to work with both parties in an effort to secure the best possible outcomes for its members.

The UAW recognizes that in order to truly represent the interests of its members, it needs to be able to work with both parties. By engaging in bipartisan efforts, the union is able to build relationships with elected officials on both sides of the aisle and advocate for policies that will benefit its members, regardless of party affiliation.

This approach has led to some notable successes for the UAW, including the passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which included provisions to protect American jobs and improve working conditions for auto workers.

Another example is the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) which is a labor union that represents workers in the electrical industry. This union also has a long-standing tradition of working with both political parties to achieve its goals. The union has a good relationship with both republicans and democrats, which allows them to negotiate better wages and benefits for their members, and also to advocate for policies that promote the electrical industry and jobs.

One of the key benefits of this impartial approach is that it allows unions to advocate for policies that will benefit their members, regardless of party affiliation. By working with both parties, unions are able to build relationships with elected officials and have their voices heard on a wider range of issues.

In conclusion, working with political parties in an unbiased way is an effective approach for unions to advocate for their members' interests. By building relationships with elected officials on both sides of the aisle, unions can promote policies that will benefit all workers, regardless of their political beliefs.