New Wind in the US Department of Labor: Unions in Transition

The recent elections in the USA brought remarkable shifts in the political spectrum, particularly among working-class voters who increasingly supported the Republicans. This trend may have significantly influenced the recent cabinet proposal by the elected president, Donald Trump: a Republican congresswoman who has garnered support from unions is set to become the new Secretary of Labor. Lori Chavez-DeRemer from Oregon, despite receiving support from union members, failed to secure re-election. This situation highlights the growing connection of many union members with the Republican Party, which is traditionally more associated with business interests—especially in the Trump era, whose populist approach brought new momentum to the voter base. Trump himself emphasized that Chavez-DeRemer’s support from both business and labor circles is crucial to bridging the gap between different societal groups and pursuing the strategy of "making America richer, wealthier, and stronger." This reflects a surprising change: although major unions like the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers clearly stood behind Kamala Harris, more grassroots members found their way to the Republicans. The former president also managed to gain support from union members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters during talks this year. Although there was ultimately no official endorsement for Trump or Harris from the Teamsters, their chairman, Sean O'Brien, nevertheless appeared prominently at the Republican convention. Interesting developments are expected in connection with Chavez-DeRemer's future role in the Department of Labor, whose responsibilities range from labor wages to labor law. The trajectory and decisions of this office could have significant impacts on the labor market in the USA in the coming years.