Catherwood LibraryILR School

Democrats throughout the legislative branch have just publicized the labor-focused facet of their “Better Deal” platform, comprised of various policy proposals discussed by party members. The proposals take on a surprisingly pro-labor tone in the face of organized labor’s criticisms of the Democrats’ seemingly stronger allegiance to Wall Street over unions and given the current political climate under the Trump administration. The proposals put forth by the Democrats include a complete ban of state right-to-work laws because of their harmful effects on union membership and, subsequently, wages and employer-provided benefits in the workplace. In addition, Democrats proposed measures that would make the process of staging a strike easier for unions as well as proposing a ban on permanent replacements of striking workers. Although these ambitious plans are far from fruition, the main problem Democrats have faced in rolling out the “Better Deal” has been a lack of public attention seeing as media coverage has focused heavily on Donald Trump’s often erratic political moves.