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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Tuesday criticized Donald Trump’s anti-union stance, asserting that he and Vice President Kamala Harris are committed to spreading their pro-labor agenda across the nation, a stance that has helped make Minnesota one of the best places to work.
While addressing the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union in Los Angeles, Walz emphasized the importance of labor rights and drew a contrast between Harris’s background and Trump’s. Harris, who made history as the first labor union member to join a presidential ticket since Ronald Reagan in 1980, has a personal connection to hard work, having worked at McDonald’s during her student years. Walz posed a rhetorical question to the crowd: “Can you simply picture Donald Trump working at a McDonald’s, trying to make a McFlurry or something?”
With a touch of humor, he remarked, “Trump couldn’t run that damn McFlurry machine if it cost him anything!” This comparison underscored his point about the differences in real-world working experience between the two political figures.
Walz highlighted his and Harris’s belief that labor unions have played a pivotal role in establishing the American middle class. He recalled joining striking workers on the picket lines, demonstrating his support for labor actions. The governor also reflected on his tenure, noting that he had enacted “one of the biggest packages of pro-worker policies in history” during his time in office.
He stated, “We made it easier for workers to form unions, we strengthened worker protections, and yes, we banned those damn captive audience meetings for good.” These meetings are mandatory sessions in which management attempts to discourage unionization. Walz proudly described the ban on such practices as “the best thing to get sued over” during his governorship.
Continuing his praise for Minnesota’s labor policies, Walz declared, “Today, Minnesota is one of the best states for workers in the country.” He added that Kamala Harris’s vision is to extend those protections to workers in every state in the nation.
Turning his attention back to his political opponents, Walz accused Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, of having little understanding of working people’s issues. He stated, “The only thing they know about working people is how to take advantage of them.” He criticized their policies and actions, claiming that they have consistently waged war on workers’ rights and their ability to bargain collectively.
Walz specifically mentioned the Republican opposition to significant labor legislation, including the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act and the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, both of which aim to simplify the process of union formation and negotiation with public sector unions. He labeled Trump’s backing of anti-union “right-to-work” laws as evidence of him being a “scab,” a term used to describe non-union workers hired to break strikes.
Walz’s remarks in Los Angeles are part of a broader strategy involving multiple speaking engagements and fundraising events, marking his first solo appearances since being named as Harris’s running mate just a week prior. He did not shy away from directly confronting Trump and Vance, pointing out their support for anti-worker agendas in the “Project 2025” plan proposed for a potential future GOP administration.
The governor articulated his concern about the implications of this project, stating, “One of the clear goals… is to put the screws to working people, making it harder to collectively bargain, allowing employers to drastically cut overtime or even eliminate it.” He went further to assert that both Trump and Vance aim to abolish public sector unions entirely.
Drawing on his experience as a football coach, Walz warned his audience that the Republican Party would implement the “playbook” outlined in Project 2025 should they regain power. “If you’re going to take the time to draw up a playbook, you’re damn sure going to use it,” he cautioned. He urged the audience not to underestimate the determination of Trump and Vance to follow through on these proposals.
By uplifting pro-labor policies and exposing the opposition’s threats to workers’ rights, Walz aims to galvanize support for workers across the country and ensure that labor protections are a priority in the upcoming election.
Source: Particlenews