Trumpism and the American Working Class

A suggestion for those hostile to Donald Trump's political platform, but have no faith in electoral politics.

Submitted by Reddebrek on April 1, 2016

So it looks like the Republican party will be backing Donald Trump come election time, which makes him the main boogieman this year. I've seen some talk about a brokered convention but I have no idea how that works so I'm just going to wait and see on that one. Anyway one interesting titbit of information I found was that of all the Republican candidates and there were a surprisingly large number of them, Donald Trump is the one that's been dominating the Working Class demographic. This isn't unprecedented, populist right wing parties and groups have usually been able to attract large sections of their nations proletariat. I'm sure every nation has at least one prominent example, in Britain Enoch Powell was very popular among British manual workers whom were usually loyal to the Labour party.

The appeal of populism is a problem, as its an obstacle to class conciousness and acts of solidarity, but I may have stumbled upon a solution to this specific example. Donald Trump is currently in the middle of a labour dispute with his own workforce. Specifically hotel staff in Las Vegas: They're trying to form a union, have actually formed one in effect and want recognition. They also want Trump's management to stop spying on and victimising staff

This week Donald Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas is facing more heat for its labor record. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued another federal complaint against Trump Ruffin Commercial, LLC, alleging that the company unlawfully terminated one employee and discriminated against another based on their union support, and promised employees job opportunities if they abandoned the union.
Trump’s company has driven an aggressive anti-union campaign since workers began organizing at the Trump Las Vegas in 2014. The complaint issued this week is the third one brought by federal government against Trump Las Vegas alleging unfair labor practices. In prior complaints, federal officials have alleged that Trump’s hotel company engaged in the following unlawful activities: 1) maintaining rules prohibiting workers from communicating with one another and the public; 2) interrogations and surveillance; 3) intimidation of employees by Trump management and security staff, including a manager physically pushing employees; and 4) suspensions and a threat to fire union supporters.

Now I'm not familiar with Unite-Here's politics or history, but I don't see how anyone in good conscience can disagree with any of these demands. Somehow Trump and his senior management have managed it though since they're still refusing to budge.

Supporting the hotel workers and linking up with other Trump employees in their grievances may well be fruitful way of causing the Millionaire a few headaches, and help them improve their own lives. It may also encourage Trump employee's to engage in more militant tactics and think beyond the narrow confines of Union official channels, a group of Hotel staff have already taken part in anti Trump protests in Chicago. The example of the Las Vegas Trump Hotel and the Toronto hotel that successfully unionised could also provide a discussion topic with workmates whom support or are sympathetic to Trumps' rhetoric without it being immediately shot down as PC liberal nonsense. Let's remind ourselves of what working for Donald Trump is like.

1) maintaining rules prohibiting workers from communicating with one another and the public;
2) interrogations and surveillance;
3) intimidation of employees by Trump management and security staff, including a manager physically pushing employees;
4) suspensions and a threat to fire union supporters.

Think about it, if Trump treats his own employee's the people who personally made the fortune he's using to get to the White House, then just how bad and dismissive is he going to be to other American workers who haven't done anything for him?

Now this isn't a blueprint for revolution, but it seems to me a more practical way of opposing an obnoxious political force. Even if he loses his employees will still be bearing the brunt of his leadership style, and if we're serious about mobilising workers as a class than this would seem like a start. It's better than voting for the other team anyway.

I am Reddebrek and I endorse this message.
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