Portside

Teamster president Sean O’Brien’s speech at the Republican National Convention may represent a return to nonpartisan realpolitik for unions. But does that reflect labor's strength or its decline?

That was the implausible message of their convention’s opening night.

Previous legal challenges have failed, but this decision comes after liberal state Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz was sworn in, flipping the high court's majority for the first time in years.

“Virtually everything we do is determined by politics. It’s just so important, from the smallest thing in your life to the biggest. Union people need to understand how powerful their vote is—how important their vote is.”

Women in unions are paid higher wages and experience smaller wage gaps than non-unionized women. Unionized women who work full time are typically paid 19% more than women who are not in a union, resulting in them making roughly $10,000 more a year.

Ultimately, the Butch Lewis Act, enacted as part of President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan, will stop cuts to the retirement benefits of 2 million workers and retirees across the country, according to the Biden administration.