This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM home for opinion and news analysis.
Last week, the White House Organized The cabinet meeting before the day of preparing to celebrate the supposed victories of the administration for American workers. The members of the Council of Ministers took rotation to present the amazing praise of their president in exactly the dynamics of the workplace that the labor movement fights in order to eliminate it. It was a suitable symbol of this administration’s approach to workers.
The brutal fact is that the Trump administration and the conservatives in Congress explode the rights of workers in this country. The administration wants to cancel More than 60 regulations in the workplaceHe has Strip Of more than a million federal workers, the Ministry of Labor is destroyed.
This is a moment that countries act – not shy or isolated. Blue countries have unexploited power, especially if they choose to use them together. With the collapse of federal work protection, the states should fill the void, and think boldly and creatively on how to build a country that supports workers.
Focusing on countries will require a shift for national progressive leaders, many of whom have long looked at the federal government as the only real stage. Some unions, community organizations and activists began to shift for years, and to turn into the states (as well as Regions). Supporters supported by workers, passed the minimum wage, paid pathological and family leave, heat protection, warehouse factor protection, non -competition ban, and collective negotiation of workers in farms and public employees.
But the current moment calls for the urgent acceleration of the state’s work. Basically, countries must protect people immediately from retreat and Hold the line On current federal protection. Countries must go further, and with a scale and speed that matches the crisis in order to ensure fair wages, safe places of work, and The right to form and join unions.
The states can coordinate to pass the “trigger laws” that implement into force if federal standards are canceled, ensuring that the declines in Washington do not leave the open workers. They can share data on employment violators and coordinate implementation, and join efforts to bring multi -state issues that follow the giant of companies that violate workers’ rights. When taking a page from the Conservative Book, the states can pass the model protection laws, billiards research, bills formulation, and communications strategies. These are not abstract ideas – cases are already cooperating in this way in other arenas, from Clean energy to Professional license.
Some countries are already experimenting. New Jersey signed, Pennsylvania, and Dillauer deal To coordinate the wage butter application. The legislative body in New York this year has been approved Trigger To protect collective negotiation rights in the event of the collapse of the National Labor Relations Law, with the proposal of similar bills in California and Massachusetts. Illinois The age of locking a law in a specific protection in the workplace if federal standards are weakened. And the lawyers Capital and Minnesota Coordinated lawsuits against Gig Company were filed for Gig due to the classification of wrong workers as independent contractors, and depriving them of rights. But these examples are very few and calm. To meet this moment, we need a clearer strategy.
Imagine if dozens of countries at one time have provided bills to age heat protection in the workplace, prohibit incompatible agreements, ensure unemployment advantages for amazing workers, or make wages stealing a felony. Coordination of “drop dates” so that employment bills in all states are presented simultaneously that create headlines and momentum. Imagine if you follow two states Maryland’s progress In ordering the workforce standards in its own stock portfolio, to ensure that government retirement pensions are invested in companies that have good work practices. Imagine if lawyers from all over the country launch joint investigations into Amazon treatment.“Flexible” drivers As independent contractors, the company is accountable for depriving them of the employee’s rights.
Imagine if the states have created compressed between the states to run a joint database of employment violators so that Scofflaw is unable to do public contracts in Oregon to say and win contracts in Washington or California. Imagine if a group of countries developed on the off -road labor standards required to provide bids on any of their governmental contracts, goods or services purchased jointly from companies with high -quality jobs. Imagine if a group of state agencies collected resources to replace a small but decisive Federalism Agencies That was demolished: The states can finance regional brokerage centers or safety research programs in the workplace. And imagine a coordinated media strategy to tell a clear story about countries gathering strength to improve people’s lives.
Nothing requires permission from the federal government. What is required is the political will, coordination and determination to address government authority as a real power.
Conservatives know the power that comes from the countries that work together. Financial officials in the republican state recently released Shared messages To the Wall Street giants are demanding the end of ESG factors in investment decisions. Republican Party cases organized compressed between the states to try to do so I love the law of sponsorship at reasonable prices And expand efforts across the state Migrant intimidation and intimidation. Right -wing officials realize that countries can form markets, set national accounts, and transform federal policy by behaving together. Progressive should be ambitious, to protect workers and promote democracy.
Defending workers and unions is right at the foundations, as it is a smart policy. New gallop reconnaissance The approval of the trade unions appears at a record level of 68 percent.
Labor Day is the perfect moment to start. The risks are enormous. almost 170 million workers They are in the American workforce. Their safety, wages and their ability to organize on the line. As well as trillion dollars in pension funds, billions in government purchasing contracts, and the health of local economies. Every dollar is spent with a committed law contractor is a dollar that does not feed the theft of wages. Each retirement fund that invests in high -road companies is raising against exploitation.
Countries have an enormous power. When the majority supporting the workers in this force control, they need to practice it completely, on intentionally, without fear. They need to act clearly, collectively, and in the emotion.
Workers’ Day should not be time for picnics or barbecue, and it should certainly not be suitable for rotating the president’s praise. It should be a crowd cry for the next battles. If the federal government does not protect American workers, the states should be. As any student in the labor movement knows, the best way to acquire and practice power – for workers and also for countries – is through teamwork.