Union Leaders Challenge Kamala Harris on Worker Support

In a recent discussion, Richard Tii, the Vice President of United Steel Workers Local 1557, and his colleague Brian Pavlick expressed strong disapproval of comments made by Governor Tim Walz regarding union members and their political choices. During the conversation, Tii highlighted that Walz's assertion that union members lack courage for not supporting Kamala Harris was an insult to the hard-working individuals in their community. Tii challenged Walz to engage fully in the labor experience by taking on the responsibilities of a steelworker. Furthermore, Tii pointed out that under Democratic administrations, many union jobs, specifically in steel and coal, were lost, leading to a mistrust of Democratic policies among union members. Pavlick echoed these sentiments, stating that their union members do not support Harris due to her policies that could dismantle protective tariffs and promote initiatives detrimental to their livelihoods, like the Green New Deal. The discussion reflects broader concerns within the labor community regarding the Democratic party's historical support for working-class jobs versus the perceived commitment from Trump during his tenure, particularly regarding tariffs that benefit steelworkers. As a result, Tii and Pavlick have launched a social media movement aimed at rallying steelworkers to endorse Trump's policies, urging fellow friends and families within the industry to join them, positioning their support clearly against Harris's political platform.