Democrats and labor unions have a long history together, rooted in their common values that the government protects the common man from abuses by the rich and powerful. As America was built, Democratic and union leaders stood shoulder to shoulder and fought for the rights and reforms that created a strong middle class. It would be a great shame if the strong alliance between labor unions and Democrats were broken. Democrats need to recommit themselves to these values to show their union supporters they have not forgotten them. Otherwise, labor unions should be asking: Is there still room in the Democratic Party for us?
Labor unions are organized groups of workers who come together to collectively negotiate for better working conditions, wages, and benefits. They play a vital role in advocating for the rights of workers and have been instrumental in shaping labor laws and workplace policies, especially during times of significant political and social changes, especially in the South. Before the official recognition of unions, particularly with the Wagner Act of 1935, labor in Alabama was characterized by long hours, dangerous working conditions, and limited worker protections. Early labor efforts focused on achieving better wages, shorter hours, and safer environments, though widespread and Federally protected unions were only legally established after the Wagner Act.
Every major industry in Alabama was served by a unionized workforce. The steel mills of Birmingham were Alabama’s largest employers. The United Steelworker’s Union ruled supreme. The state docks in Mobile boomed with the economic expansion. The dock workers were all unionized.
The explosion of new automobiles created the need for tires. Tire makers looked to Alabama and built major plants here. B.F. Goodrich landed in Tuscaloosa. Goodyear settled in Gadsden and Opelika. These tire plants became the largest employers in these three cities. They were all unionized.
The paper mills in Tuscaloosa were unionized. Reynolds Aluminum built its largest plant in the world in Sheffield, Alabama. It became the premier employer in the Quad-Cities. The workers were all union. The massive Tennessee Valley Authority, which harnessed the vast natural water of the Tennessee Valley that gave employment to thousands of North Alabamians. These TVA workers were union members.
However, over the past half-century, the American and world economy has changed, and labor union strength has diminished almost to the point of insignificance in Alabama. Although recently organized labor has made an intense effort to organize workers in Alabama. They made a run earlier this year on the Mercedes plant but fell short.
Before the unions, the coal mines in Alabama were extremely dangerous, with a high frequency of deadly disasters, unsafe working conditions, and the rampant exploitation of child and convict labor. Unions like the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) formed in direct response to these deadly conditions.
Corporations may use a variety of threats and intimidation tactics, some of which are illegal, to discourage or prevent employees from unionizing. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects employees’ rights to organize and prohibits employers from interfering with, restraining, or coercing employees in the exercise of those rights; however, it does happen. Corporations may tell workers that electing a union will be a “futile” effort and will not result in any improvements. Companies often claim that unions will force employees to surrender their ability to talk directly with their managers. Corporations may claim that union dues will cost employees more than any benefits they might gain from a union contract. Companies frequently force employees to attend meetings where managers deliver anti-union messaging and are not allowed to ask questions or express pro-union views. Workers can be against unions due to factors such as the belief that they can achieve benefits without a union. There is often fear of negative consequences from management, or because they have been exposed to strong anti-union messaging from employers or consultants. Some workers may also be influenced by “right-to-work” laws, which allow them to opt out of paying union dues.
While the Democrats had long been an awkward mix of blue-collar workers, ethnic minorities, and urban liberals, the Republicans had never depended on these voters. Now MAGA Republicans began to openly call for re-industrialization through tariffs, an end to illegal immigration, and a reversal of costly restrictions on energy production. At the same time, more and more citizens began voting along economic rather than ethnic lines. The result has been one of the most dramatic shifts in our political landscape since the Civil War. To be clear, past Democratic administrations have a proud record of achievement, having brought the nation advances ranging from rural electrification and Social Security to landmark civil rights legislation. Unfortunately, the questions answered by Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy are not the questions being asked today.
If you’re an average working person out there, do you really think that the Democratic Party is going to the mats, taking on powerful special interests and fighting for you? The answer is YES!
Democrats have proposed several labor-related bills in Congress that have not yet become law. The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act is a major bill that Democrats have repeatedly introduced, most recently in 2025. Its provisions would significantly expand workers’ rights to organize and collectively bargain by protecting against employer interference during union elections, preventing the misclassification of employees as independent contractors, overriding state “right-to-work” laws that weaken union membership, and creating financial penalties for employers who violate workers’ rights.
Other proposals: House Democrats have introduced several other bills aimed at increasing worker protections, including the LET’S Protect Workers Act that would increase penalties for violations of child labor, minimum wage, and health and safety standards; The Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act that is intended to crack down on employers who unfairly withhold wages and the The Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill to address gender-based wage discrimination.
The labor laws that have recently passed are The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers; The Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act, which will expand workplace protections for nursing mothers who need to express breast milk. Both of these laws were voted against by Robert Aderholt.
Under the Biden Administration, changes to the labor policy occurred through rules from the Department of Labor, such as the Independent Contractor Rule, a new rule making it more difficult for companies to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees. The rule adopts an “economic reality” test that focuses on whether a worker is truly in business for themselves. Also, Overtime Protections were issued to update and increase the minimum salary levels for “executive, administrative, and professional” employees to be exempt from overtime pay. While the rule was vacated by a Federal court in late 2024, the government has filed a notice of appeal. The Civil Rights Enforcement Act is a Trump-era rule that undermined workplace civil rights enforcement and was repealed by the Democrats.
Alabama labor laws are considered less protective because they mostly defer to Federal standards that lack many state-specific mandates found in other states. Alabama does not have its own minimum wage, state-mandated paid sick or vacation leave, or state-required meal and rest breaks for adults. While Federal laws on wages, safety (OSHA), and discrimination (EEO) still apply, employees in Alabama often rely on these Federal protections and state laws to address workplace issues.
The Democratic Party must do better to include the blue-collar workers in our narrative. One thing would be to have a Labor Caucus in our Alabama Democratic Party and give them a seat at the table to feel included and represented. What’s the problem with doing that? Ask Chairman Randy Kelley.
Lynda Kirkpatrick