South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain released the following statement for Labor Day weekend:
“President Biden is the most pro-worker, pro-labor president of our lifetimes. From the American Rescue Plan to the Inflation Reduction Act to the CHIPS and Science Act, President Biden has always put workers first and helped create thousands of good-paying jobs across the Palmetto State — while 2024 Republicans are running on an agenda that will undo that progress. Members of the MAGA field have turned their backs on Main Street businesses and working families in favor of enriching wealthy donors and huge corporations. As Tim Scott and other presidential hopefuls come into town this Labor Day, they need to answer for their anti-worker, anti-union, and anti-job platforms.”
Here’s a look at the 2024 GOP field’s anti-labor records:
- Tim Scott has spent his entire career pushing legislation to weaken unions and criticized unions as a “cost” to corporate productivity and advancement. He’s also called to “break the backs” of teachers unions.
- As governor, Nikki Haley opposed unions year after year, even touting South Carolina’s anti-union reputation.
- Donald Trump tried to slash funding for the Labor Department, National Labor Relations Board, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and made it easier to fire federal employees.
- As a congressman, Ron DeSantis opposed raising the minimum wage and pushed for anti-worker and anti-union legislation. That was only emphasized as governor, where he has consistently sided against workers.
- Mike Pence has made it no secret that he supports “right-to-work” laws.
- Chris Christie, as governor of New Jersey, railed against the national teachers union — saying it deserved a “punch in the face” — and vetoed legislation to raise the minimum wage.
- Vivek Ramaswamy pledged to eliminate unions if elected.
