The Democratic National Convention in Chicago will feature primetime speeches from several prominent labor union leaders, including UAW President Shawn Fain, SEIU President April Verrett, and AFSCME President Lee Saunders, among others. One notable absence will be Teamsters President Sean O’Brien, who spoke at the Republican National Convention but will not be speaking in Chicago. The convention will also include speeches from Congressional allies of organized labor, such as Senator Elizabeth Warren, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Senator Gary Peters. With more than 2.7 million union members in battleground states, the Harris-Walz campaign is looking to secure the support of the rank-and-file members who could tip the scales in the election.
Labor unions have thrown their support behind the Harris-Walz ticket, with endorsements from major unions and a focus on organizing and getting out the vote. Harris and Walz have highlighted their pro-labor records, with Harris’s history of supporting workers’ rights and pension plans receiving praise from union leaders. The convention’s theme, “For The People,” reflects Mr. Biden’s longstanding support for unions, and the party is hoping to rally union members behind their ticket with promises to put working people first. Unions have invested heavily in canvassing efforts to support the Harris-Walz ticket, including door-knocking operations and other outreach initiatives.
In Nevada, the influential Culinary Union Local 226 will launch its own canvassing operations to support Harris, backing her commitments to ending taxes on tipped wages and raising the federal minimum wage. Trump’s similar proposal was criticized by the union, which described it as a “wild campaign promise from a convicted felon.” The strong union presence in Chicago was a key factor in the city being chosen to host the Democratic Party’s convention, with the city’s history of labor unions and unionized workforce playing a prominent role in the decision. The convention will showcase Chicago’s ties to the labor movement and emphasize its commitment to supporting workers’ rights and unions.
Overall, the Democratic National Convention in Chicago will feature a lineup of prominent labor union leaders and Congressional allies of organized labor, highlighting the importance of union support in key battleground states. The convention will focus on rallying union members behind the Harris-Walz ticket, emphasizing their pro-labor records and commitment to working people. With significant investments in canvassing efforts and door-knocking operations, unions are hoping to mobilize their membership to support the Democratic ticket in the upcoming election. The convention’s theme of “For The People” reflects the party’s dedication to supporting workers’ rights and unions as they make their case to union members across the country.
