Let’s dive into the latest clash between the Trump campaign and a major hospitality union, UNITE HERE, which has just thrown its support behind Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election. This endorsement has sparked a heated response from Trump’s team, as they aim to win over the same blue-collar workers that the union represents.
The tension centers around Trump’s recent proposal to eliminate taxes on tips for workers in the hospitality industry. He first introduced this idea at a rally in Nevada, a key swing state with a large number of tipped workers, back in June.
Trump’s pitch was clear: He wants to put more money directly into the pockets of hotel and restaurant employees by cutting out the taxes on their hard-earned tips.
But despite this pledge, UNITE HERE, one of the largest unions representing hospitality workers, rejected Trump’s proposal and instead endorsed Kamala Harris for president. The union’s president, Gwen Mills, dismissed Trump’s promise as a mere play for votes, arguing that Harris has a long-standing track record of supporting unions and fighting for workers’ rights.
This endorsement comes with a commitment from UNITE HERE to mobilize its members to knock on over 3 million doors in critical swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, and North Carolina—states that could be decisive in the 2024 election.
In response, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt didn’t hold back. She accused union leaders of being out of touch with the very workers they’re supposed to represent, claiming that they’ve become “puppets for the Democrat Party.” Leavitt doubled down on Trump’s commitment to follow through on his tax-free tips pledge, positioning it as a direct benefit for America’s hardworking service workers.
The stakes are high as both campaigns vie for the support of blue-collar workers, a demographic that could swing the election. Trump, along with his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, has been making a broader appeal to these workers, especially in Rust Belt states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Vance’s message at the Republican National Convention was clear: He and Trump won’t forget the communities that have been hit hardest by economic shifts and job losses.
Interestingly, the Teamsters union, traditionally a stronghold of Democratic support, showed a rare openness to the Republican ticket at the convention.
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien, the first leader of his organization to speak at a Republican National Convention, emphasized that the union isn’t loyal to any one party but is instead focused on what candidates are doing to support American workers.
Source: Red Right Newsfeed
Obvious they are being overpaid as they are fine with Harris hiking the taxes on their tips.