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While we are now effectively down to a choice of two (unless RFK Jr. can continue the family tradition of shocking the nation), the 2024 US Presidential race started with more than a thousand hopefuls throwing their hats in the ring.
It is almost as if some people genuinely do believe that absolutely anyone can become President.
For the two largest parties - Democrat and Republican - whittling those that came forward in their parties down to one was a predictable exercise. It was always going to be Trump versus Biden.
Except of course, it isn’t, is it? Joe Biden’s gaffe-prone campaign ended early after one too many “senior moments”, like calling the Ukrainian president, “President Pootin”. Ach, we’ve all done it.
So, now, after Joe was finally convinced that a daily schedule of chairobics, bridge, and daytime TV was a better option for him (for everyone) than another go at the most powerful job in the world, current VP Kamala Harris is looking to grab herself a promotion and prevent Donald Trump from getting a second term in the White House.
From high drama to worker rights: Catching up on the election campaigns so far
There are of course several other “notable” candidates running. The aforementioned Robert F Kennedy Jr.; the Green Party’s Jill Stein; Chase Oliver from the Libertarian Party; independent Cornell West and Randall Terry from the Constitution Party.
But we can all agree this, like all other elections in modern history, is a two horse race. So for the purposes of this exercise it is all about Trump v Harris. OK?
Only a few short weeks ago, all the coverage centered on Trump getting nicked in the ear by a would-be assassin’s bullet, providing a major boost to his campaign after his fist-pumping show of death defiance.
Now, however, talk around the dinner table has turned to workers’ rights.
His online audio chat with billionaire chum and supporter Elon Musk, gave the Democrats ample rope with which to hang him after he saluted Musk’s own unique approach to worker welfare.
“I love it," Trump said. “You're the greatest ... I mean, I look at what you do. You just walk in, and you just say, ‘You wanna quit?’ They go on strike, I won't mention the name of the company, but they go on strike, and you say, ‘That's OK, you're all gone ... Every one of you is gone’.”
This absolute gift to the Democrat campaign was quickly seized upon by the Harris camp to put Trump’s rhetoric under the spotlight, describing Trump and Musk as "self-obsessed rich guys who will sell out the middle class”.
United Auto Workers Union (UAW) president Shawn Fain, pulled zero punches when he said: “When we say Donald Trump is a scab, this is what we mean. Both Trump and Musk want working class people to sit down and shut up, and they laugh about it openly. It’s disgusting, illegal, and totally predictable from these two clowns.”
For business leaders and anyone involved in HR roles, it is important to know what might be coming down the pipeline in terms of new employment initiatives, removal of workplace safeguards, union regulations, minimum wage levels, and the effect of economic policy on job creation and employment.
Let's get into it.
The Republicans and workers’ rights
What then, is the Republicans stance on labor relations and workers' rights as its vows to build “the greatest economy in history”?
There is very little meat on the bone in its 2024 Election promises with regards to workplace rights and what will remain and what will change, but it does promise to put American workers first when it comes to job creation.
The GOP vows to: “Bring critical supply chains back to the US, ensuring national security and economic stability, while also creating jobs and raising wages for American workers.
“Republicans will strengthen Buy American and Hire American policies, banning companies that outsource jobs from doing business with the Federal Government.”
The rhetoric is all about protectionism through trade tariffs (Trump promises to ban the import of Chinese vehicles) and tax incentives such as eliminating taxes on tips for restaurant and hospitality workers, and other additional tax cuts.
“The Republican Party stands for a patriotic “America First” economic policy. Republicans offer a robust plan to protect American workers, farmers, and industries from unfair foreign competition. We commit to rebalancing trade, securing strategic independence, and revitalizing manufacturing. We will prioritize domestic production and ensure national independence in essential goods and services. Together, we will build a strong, self-reliant, and prosperous America.”
The Democrats and workers’ rights
In contrast, the Democrats’ Tom Perez, Senior Advisor to President Biden, and former Secretary of Labor under President Obama, said: “The platform of the Harris-Walz campaign, it is about making sure that if you work a full-time job, you can feed your family.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was chosen as Harris’ running mate in part for his strong track record on workers' rights. The state has enacted several worker friendly policies, including 12 weeks of paid leave and a $1,750 Child Tax Credit.
Perez promises initiatives around paid leave on a national level, calling it “The next frontier of progress”
“We're the only industrialized nation on the planet that doesn't have some form of paid leave at a federal level,” said Perez.
“Countries that have paid leave have much better labor force participation, especially online, and so that's what the Vice President is about. It's about making sure we give opportunities for people, childcare, tax credit, paid leave. It's time to do this, and states have demonstrated that it can be done, but now we need to do it at the federal level, because you shouldn't have to win the geographic lottery to have access to paid leave in this country.”
Candidate Harris also supports an increase in the national minimum wage, which has been stagnant at $7.25 an hour for over a decade. The plan is to double it to $15 per hour by 2026.
Democrats promise to prioritize passing the PRO Act and restoring workers’ rights, including the right to launch secondary boycotts, and repealing so-called “right to work” laws that “undermine worker power and lead to lower wages and less protection for workers across the economy”. Greater wage and working hours protections for domestic workers and farm workers are also on the ticket.
The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act would provide a federal guarantee for public-sector employees to bargain for better pay and benefits and working conditions.
There is also a promise to address workplace inequality through increased funding to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, boosting its authority to initiate directed investigations into civil rights violations, violations of the rights of people with disabilities, and violations against LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender women of color.
As part of that, Federal contractors would be required to develop and disclose plans to recruit and promote people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and veterans—and be held accountable for implementation.
Increased funding and staffing at the Department of Labor is promised to “aggressively” enforce wage, hours, health, and safety rules across the economy.
What election promises are each party making that HR needs to be aware of?
Here, in a nutshell, is both parties’ promise to American workers…
Democrats
- Raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026
- Pass the PRO Act to restore workers' rights and strengthen unions
- Repeal "right to work" laws
- Extend wage and hour protections to domestic workers and farmworkers
- Strengthen whistleblower and anti-retaliation protections
- Recognize unions through "card check" processes
- Ban captive audience meetings used by employers to discourage unionization
- Hold executives personally accountable, including criminal penalties, for interfering with unionization efforts
- Protect private-sector workers' right to strike
- Increase funding and staffing at the Department of Labor to enforce labor laws
- Use the ABC test to determine employee status for gig and platform workers
- Pass the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act for public-sector employees
- Increase funding and authority for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to investigate discrimination
- Require federal contractors to develop and implement plans to recruit and promote underrepresented groups
Republican
- Slash regulations that are said to stifle jobs, freedom, and innovation
- Make the Trump tax cuts permanent
- Eliminate taxes on tips for restaurant and hospitality workers
- Pursue "fair and reciprocal trade deals" to prioritize American producers over foreign outsourcers
- Bring critical supply chains back to the US
- Support the creation of more affordable alternatives to traditional four-year college degrees
- Support baseline tariffs on foreign-made goods
- “Revive” the US auto industry by reversing regulations and canceling electric vehicle mandates
- Bring critical supply chains back to the US, creating jobs and raising wages for American workers
- Strengthen "Buy American and Hire American" policies
- Ban companies that outsource jobs from doing business with the federal government
- Restore American manufacturing to create jobs, wealth, and investment
