Opinion | The Economy, Unions, Politics: 12 Union Members Discuss

Maria,


48, N.Y., white, Republican, nurse

Divided.

Sheryl,


43, Mich., Black, independent, material handler

Gun violence.

Francesco,


42, Mass., white, Democrat, manufacturing

Health care.

Vanessa,


38, Ill., Latina, independent, train operator

The world itself and everything that’s happening in it, especially the crimes.

Susan,


64, Hawaii, Pacific Islander, Democrat, flight attendant

Division.

Emily,


33, N.J., white, Democrat, teacher

Safety.

Andrew,


45, Mo., white, Republican, grocery clerk

Terrorism.

Jose,


56, Ill., Latino, Democrat, forklift operator

Crime.

John,


58, Texas, Black, Democrat, customer service

Homelessness.

Trudi,


59, Wash., white, Republican, custodian

The economy.

Joe,


66, N.Y., white, Republican, electrician

Inflation.

Kevin,


60, Pa., white, independent, teacher

Dishonesty and denial.

Emily,


33, N.J., white, Democrat, teacher

Our children being able to go to school safely. People being able to safely get the reproductive care they need.

Kevin,


60, Pa., white, independent, teacher

Just from fake news to people saying things — all these wild, discrepant “facts.”

Maria,


48, N.Y., white, Republican, nurse

We’re so far right or so far left that there’s no chance for the middle people to get a word in. We don’t trust each other anymore. I feel the media has a lot to do with that, whether it’s race or politics.

Trudi,


59, Wash., white, Republican, custodian

I have a job, and I feel like I make decent money. But with everything skyrocketing and the wages being fairly stagnant in the last year, it’s a struggle.

Jose,


56, Ill., Latino, Democrat, forklift operator

I believe in looking forward, not living in the past. You got to pray for better things and look on the bright side.

Francesco,


42, Mass., white, Democrat, manufacturing

We go through cycles of boom and bust, of growth and then recession. In maybe two to three years, we’ll be fine.

Sheryl,


43, Mich., Black, independent, material handler

I want to be optimistic, but you have to live for right now. Right now is pretty bleak.

Sheryl,


43, Mich., Black, independent, material handler

Gun violence is so out of control. You can’t go to church. You can’t go to the grocery store. You can’t send your kids to school. You can’t send your kids off to college. You can’t go to shows. It’s just random shootings for no reason.

Vanessa,


38, Ill., Latina, independent, train operator

I live in Chicago. When I was younger, I was able to play outside. Now kids are home on tablets or computers, playing video games. There’s really no interaction with people, which has a big effect on mental health. And like Sheryl said, we’re not safe. I’m a train operator. I’ve gotten attacked plenty of times on the train. We’re just not safe anymore.

John,


58, Texas, Black, Democrat, customer service

I’m just like Vanessa — you’re not safe anywhere you go. I try to think of those days behind us, and I wish it could be that way now.

Joe,


66, N.Y., white, Republican, electrician

I’m in New York City. I think the best days are long behind. People get thrown in front of subway trains. They arrest the guy, and he stays in the police station for an hour, and he’s released. Two days later, he’s doing the same thing again. Nowadays, people don’t want any rules.

Andrew,


45, Mo., white, Republican, grocery clerk

I feel like our leadership is not very strong right now, but I have to disagree a little bit. I feel very safe taking my electric bike to the movie theater or the library.

Emily,


33, N.J., white, Democrat, teacher

I don’t remember worrying as a child as much. Maybe I notice a lot more now, of my surroundings, racial tensions and all that.

Francesco,


42, Mass., white, Democrat, manufacturing

I’m a plant manager of 53 people, and I was pretty much laid off for over a year in March of 2020 to about March of 2021. I worked at home, made very little salary. The company has come back to 2019 levels, and so economically, I’m coming back.

Kevin,


60, Pa., white, independent, teacher

Financially, I’m more stable now than I’ve ever been. I’m a teacher. I work in public schools. It takes a number of years to finally pay off bills and get to a salary that is reasonable. I finally bought my first house five years ago. Thanks to my union, there’s stability and predictability and opportunity to be able to fight for a fair wage.

Maria,


48, N.Y., white, Republican, nurse

I don’t really think we have much of a say. The working class doesn’t, really. We vote people in, but we’re not sure they’re going to do their best by us. Just recently, I was paying for my son’s college tuition. I used to be able to pay with a credit card. And now they charge you $500 just to use it. People think they have the right to charge whatever they want now without opinions from anyone else. And there’s nothing governing that.

Vanessa,


38, Ill., Latina, independent, train operator

Yeah, I feel like we don’t have a say. Like she says, we put people in office, and we hope that they make good decisions. But at the end of the day, the working class, we still have to pay everything. The politicians make the rules, and we just got to obey them.

Andrew,


45, Mo., white, Republican, grocery clerk

I’ve had the same job for over 25 years. I think it’s been pretty consistent.

Emily,


33, N.J., white, Democrat, teacher

I feel like every time you try to get ahead, something happens. Everybody has their own story — it might be whether they lost their job or a family member got sick. I feel like it’s kind of universal.

Maria,


48, N.Y., white, Republican, nurse

I think the working-class person is one who needs their job to pay their bills just to get by, maybe to be able to afford a vacation here and there. They work hard for their kids or their family and try to have a little nest egg on the side. They don’t have these great investments that are showing huge returns. Someone who’s not necessarily struggling but definitely always on their toes trying to do better.

Susan,


64, Hawaii, Pacific Islander, Democrat, flight attendant

People who don’t have offshore accounts. I’m in Hawaii, so it’s kind of common for people to have two or three jobs.

Andrew,


45, Mo., white, Republican, grocery clerk

When I hear “working class,” I think of clocking in and clocking out of a job, you know?

Kevin,


60, Pa., white, independent, teacher

I liked Maria’s definition of it being people who are working for their paycheck to pay off bills. In the past, the class divisions seemed to be smaller. There was working class, middle class, the wealthy. Now the wealthy is so far above, and there’s so many layers of that that I think, maybe by her definition, the middle class is the working class. We’re just sort of getting by on what we’ve got. I never considered myself working class, but I guess ….

Trudi,


59, Wash., white, Republican, custodian

I am working class. I don’t find it offensive. I work to live.

Sheryl,


43, Mich., Black, independent, material handler

I agree with Trudi. I work to survive, to live, to pay my bills, to travel and have a little nest egg aside. But yeah, I am working class. There is no middle class anymore. When I was growing up, I could say I was middle class, but that was my parents’ income. Now I’m working class, for sure.

Emily,


33, N.J., white, Democrat, teacher

I feel like growing up, we were definitely middle class. My mom worked part time, but she didn’t have to work. Now I have to work. My husband has to work. We both have second jobs. And yeah, we can afford a vacation here and there, but we both have to work. There’s no choice.

Joe,


66, N.Y., white, Republican, electrician

I’m retired class. I’m not working now — or rich.

Vanessa,


38, Ill., Latina, independent, train operator

We have good jobs now, but even having a good job, you struggle now. You save a little bit, and then, bam, the food goes up. The things that you spend the most money on are the things that you need to survive.

John,


58, Texas, Black, Democrat, customer service

I’m in struggle mode, so there’s a lot of discussion of needs versus wants in our household. I’m not trying to keep up with the Joneses, but I work to try to make my kids have the things that they need. Because it’s hard enough just seeing what we’re going through, and so I didn’t want to put that on them. We try to make sure that we sacrifice to make sure that they have what they need.

Andrew,


45, Mo., white, Republican, grocery clerk

I work for a large grocery store chain. They’ve been pretty fair to me. They gave us Covid relief pay, and I think our union has been pretty decent.

Emily,


33, N.J., white, Democrat, teacher

I teach special education in New Jersey. It’s not an option to join the union. You have to. As far as what they’re fighting for, it’s contract negotiations, so they’re trying, right now unsuccessfully, to increase our wages.

Vanessa,


38, Ill., Latina, independent, train operator

I work for a big union here in Chicago. Back then, there was no choice. You had to join, and it’s very expensive. You pay, like, $80 a month. They absolutely do nothing. It is ridiculous. We didn’t get Covid pay throughout the pandemic. I think it’s more politics, and every time we reach out to them to get help, they make you feel like they’re doing you a favor.

Trudi,


59, Wash., white, Republican, custodian

I joined the union because of a labor dispute. I worked hours, and they refused to pay me for them. I had to file my own grievance. And after that, I became very involved in my local because I certainly didn’t want anyone else to go through what I had gone through. I like to be able to help people, and one of the things we can help them with is through collective bargaining and trying to get them a living wage.

Jose,


56, Ill., Latino, Democrat, forklift operator

I recently departed my company because of work injury, and the union really didn’t stick up for me. I mean, I came back to work, and they offered me a position where I wouldn’t be standing on my feet and I’d sit down. And I’m like, “OK, I’ll go back to work.” And when I turned around and showed up, they’re like, “Oh, no, go back to your old department.” I was paying my dues, doing everything right. And I would constantly tell them, like, “Hey, I can’t be doing this job. My knee is shot. Is there another position that I can do?” In my opinion, the union I work for didn’t stand behind its employees.

Kevin,


60, Pa., white, independent, teacher

I’m a special ed teacher and a child advocate. I appreciate somebody looking out for my interests. I don’t think unions always look out for students or children. Their job is to look out for us, and that’s what they’re committed to doing. I think a workers’ union has a single interest: to raise the pay and keep the place safe. That makes more sense. Professional unions seem a little selfish to me. My daughter would always want me to say, “Put the kids first, not put myself first. I’ll be taken care of.” But I’m glad I am in a union position. I wouldn’t have had the wage increases that I’ve had, probably.

Susan,


64, Hawaii, Pacific Islander, Democrat, flight attendant

I work for a major airline, and you have to be in the union. Otherwise, you’re out sailing along by yourself in the middle of the ocean, completely defenseless. But being part of a union is not really a big part of my identity. It’s just part of what we do being employed.

Andrew,


45, Mo., white, Republican, grocery clerk

I wouldn’t say I’m super-involved with my union. I just go in there, I do my job, and that’s about it.

Joe,


66, N.Y., white, Republican, electrician

I still am in contact with a lot of people that are working, and I’ll tell you the truth — they carry union cards, they pay union dues, but I don’t know anybody that’s pro-union anymore. If you work for a boss that goes by the contract, unions are good. If you have a problem or you have a boss that doesn’t go by the contract, then you find out who’s pro-union and who’s not because that’s when you find out that they’re really not interested in helping you.

Joe,


66, N.Y., white, Republican, electrician

I was in a trade union. The boss pays the insurance premiums to the union because my union was self-insured. So in the contract, they’re supposed to pay a certain amount of money per week for your medical, your dental, whole list of things they have to pay.

Joe,


66, N.Y., white, Republican, electrician

And what was happening was that the company I was working for wasn’t paying, so I get a letter in the mail from the union telling me that if the contractor doesn’t start to pay these dues, I’m going to lose my medical. Then underneath it, it says, “Don’t contact us. There’s nothing we can do for you.” So who do I contact? Do I have to go grab the boss by the neck and choke him?

John,


58, Texas, Black, Democrat, customer service

So I’ve been in many situations where, say, supervisors are not following the contract. There were unfair practices, safety issues. As a union official, I felt that my role was to make sure that the contract is being enforced. I’m not getting paid for doing what I’m doing, but I did because I want to help people. I’ve been in several contract negotiations. I’ve seen how the company feels about the employees, patting them on the back one minute, behind closed doors saying all kinds of things about the employee.

Maria,


48, N.Y., white, Republican, nurse

I’m a nurse, and my husband and I both work in the same hospital. He’s a P.A. And the nurses were unionized from when we were hired, but the P.A.s didn’t have a union, and they were very much mistreated. They didn’t get extra pay for preceptor, or they were easily floated to other places where they didn’t know the practice. They didn’t get raises very often. The union just came in. We work in New York City, and they organized the P.A.s. And our management was very much against it. But the organizing worked, and they all got raises. Their staffing is increased. They’re not mandated to do overtime, and they’re able to pick schedules now.

Maria,


48, N.Y., white, Republican, nurse

So prior to the union, P.A.s hadn’t gotten a raise for five years. With the nurses striking and getting 8 percent, they also got 8 percent.

John,


58, Texas, Black, Democrat, customer service

That’s real good.

Maria,


48, N.Y., white, Republican, nurse

Yeah, it was great. My union’s in negotiations right now, too.

Kevin,


60, Pa., white, independent, teacher

As a teacher, I don’t think really we should strike, but I know we’ve had success doing it when school unions have. We’re there for the students. And if a strike goes on for a month or something, students are out of school. I feel like there’s better opportunities to negotiate, though it’s been successful, I’m glad to say. I’ve not been involved in a strike like that or had to be.

Andrew,


45, Mo., white, Republican, grocery clerk

We did go on strike about 15, 20 years ago. I remember sitting outside in our cars, and I think that it can evoke change. We got more money for baggers, clerks. Good things happen.

Jose,


56, Ill., Latino, Democrat, forklift operator

If it’s to get a pay raise and better benefits, yeah, it’s to your benefit to go on strike.

Joe,


66, N.Y., white, Republican, electrician

My personal belief is that unions should stay out of politics and stick to being unions. But basically, that’s what they’ve become now. They’ve become arms of political parties more than they’re worried about the working people themselves. That’s a shame.

Maria,


48, N.Y., white, Republican, nurse

I agree with Joe. Unions should stay out of politics. I know with my union, a lot of times when there’s an election, they kind of favor a political official for whatever reason. But I don’t really think that we should be backing up politicians.

Vanessa,


38, Ill., Latina, independent, train operator

Well, you know, I agree. I don’t think that unions should be mixed with politics. But sadly, that’s how it is here. Our union endorses these politicians that they feel are going to help. But I just feel like the union, for me, in my experience, in the 10 years that I’ve been working, they don’t help.

Francesco,


42, Mass., white, Democrat, manufacturing

“Solidarity” means if you join a union, you’re all joining for the same cause and for the same purpose. I mean, same cause, same purpose, same everything.

John,


58, Texas, Black, Democrat, customer service

That’s good if the union members buy into that, if they buy into that solidarity. I mean, that’s how you can get better conditions. But at my plant, that word right there is only a word. It used to be “You’re my union brother, my union sister. We have each other’s back.” But that’s not the case where I work.

Trudi,


59, Wash., white, Republican, custodian

Solidarity is just the oneness of bringing everyone together, your union brothers and sisters, for a cause.

Trudi,


59, Wash., white, Republican, custodian

I’m a proud Republican that lives in a Democratic state. I don’t normally know the political affiliation of the people that I work with. I am a K-12 public education custodian at a local high school of about 1,500 students. I’m also our local chapter president for our union. I’m trying to have discussions with legislators on a regular basis to tell them how important it is to fully fund education. Covid was tough on education. I’m a big believer in unions. Politics and religion — we don’t talk about that at school or work. Normally, everyone is individual, and everybody has a right to their opinion. And if they want to bring it forward, we can agree to disagree. Let’s try and stay focused on the job and do it.

Sheryl,


43, Mich., Black, independent, material handler

We don’t too much discuss what your affiliation is in politics, either. At union meetings, they get pretty heated, but that’s one topic we don’t bring up. There’s a lot of division in my place where I work, and the morale is awful. But politics don’t come up a lot.

Andrew,


45, Mo., white, Republican, grocery clerk

I’m a Republican, and my entire family is, but I think all of us can find some common ground to agree on. I think everybody can find something that they share the same ground on.

Kevin,


60, Pa., white, independent, teacher

I think we’ve all been criticizing politicians and maybe some problems with unions. I think the adversary is the corporation or the business and the stockholders and what commitment they have to them and maximizing their profit. So that’s where we can come together and join, Democrats and Republicans. The corporations are the ones with all the money. And if they couldn’t give it up a little bit for their employees, then I think we should join together to fight for that.

Maria,


48, N.Y., white, Republican, nurse

As union members, we’re all fighting for the same thing. We want a safe practice for our patients. We want fair wages so we could take care of our families. As humans, we want the same things. So I think we all stand in solidarity not just because of our unions but as humans trying to do a good thing.

Kevin,


60, Pa., white, independent, teacher

I’m a big anti-bully person, and I’ve never seen a bigger bully in the world than Trump. All the Republicans know it. He’s their bully. My job is to stand in front of the bully, and I’m just really brokenhearted to see how people can support a man like that. My brother’s a Republican. My father’s a Republican. I respect their political points of view, but not this man. I’m a New Yorker. I’ve heard stories about him my whole life. He’s a degenerate.

Sheryl,


43, Mich., Black, independent, material handler

I’m so over Donald Trump and his shenanigans. I agree with Kevin. To see so many people are followers — it just shows you the sheep and how they file.

Emily,


33, N.J., white, Democrat, teacher

I agree with Sheryl. I’m just tired of hearing it all the time. You turn on the TV, and all your regular shows are taken away. It’s just always there.

Andrew,


45, Mo., white, Republican, grocery clerk

I think I would agree that Donald Trump can have a loud mouth, but I think he actually gets things done. We have someone in office now who can barely walk up and down stairs without tripping. They would put him in a bad light for anything. I think if they said that he’s actually Satan, people would believe it.

Kevin,


60, Pa., white, independent, teacher

He does a pretty good job putting himself in a bad light. He seems to be proud of the things that he does.

Jose,


56, Ill., Latino, Democrat, forklift operator

It’s a little bit of both. I think it’s political, and then also it is against the law, what he did, technically. But they’re coming after him right now because he’s trying to run for office, for president again in 2024.

Kevin,


60, Pa., white, independent, teacher

I think it’s the opposite. I think he’s running so that he can protect himself. All these cases predated his desire to run again.

Emily,


33, N.J., white, Democrat, teacher

I don’t know all the things he’s getting charged for, but it would be nice if he couldn’t run again in 2024.

Joe,


66, N.Y., white, Republican, electrician

It changed my opinion.

Kevin,


60, Pa., white, independent, teacher

Doesn’t change.

John,


58, Texas, Black, Democrat, customer service

It doesn’t change my opinion.

Andrew,


45, Mo., white, Republican, grocery clerk

It doesn’t change my opinion. I would love to have him back into office again.

Sheryl,


43, Mich., Black, independent, material handler

I’m not voting for Trump. I didn’t, and I’m not.

Joe,


66, N.Y., white, Republican, electrician

I just wish this district attorney in New York would spend more time keeping criminals in jail than worrying about this guy and his girlfriends.

Kevin,


60, Pa., white, independent, teacher

He could and should do both things.

Vanessa,


38, Ill., Latina, independent, train operator

I’m just so tired of hearing about Trump. Every time I turn on the TV, I’m watching something, and it comes up. I didn’t vote for him. I’m not OK with people being racist, and now that he was in office, people have become way more outspoken with their racism. I think he is a bully. And whoever follows him, I honestly think that it’s because all he does is talk about race. And I’m just so tired of it. I’m not interested.

Joe,


66, N.Y., white, Republican, electrician

The indictments are good cover for Biden and his kid.

Susan,


64, Hawaii, Pacific Islander, Democrat, flight attendant

I think President Biden is just doing what he needs to do, doing his job with all of his team behind him.

Francesco,


42, Mass., white, Democrat, manufacturing

I think Trump’s involvement in Jan. 6 was obviously worth looking into. But I just think that now they’re really grasping at straws.

Kevin,


60, Pa., white, independent, teacher

He can’t get away with it.

John,


58, Texas, Black, Democrat, customer service

I don’t want to see Trump running. I don’t want to see him back in office. I don’t want to see Biden, and I voted for Biden.

John,


58, Texas, Black, Democrat, customer service

Probably Nikki Haley.

Trudi,


59, Wash., white, Republican, custodian

I think the political persecution of Donald Trump has put a lot of shade on President Biden. I’d like to see some fresh candidates come out of this.

Trudi,


59, Wash., white, Republican, custodian

I’ve been pro-DeSantis for a couple of years. He’s not near as divisive. I did vote for Trump twice and am hopeful for some change to come in ’24. I’m not happy with the political environment.

Maria,


48, N.Y., white, Republican, nurse

So I think all this attention on Donald Trump doesn’t change anything about Joe Biden. I don’t follow it very much, but I think there’s a lot of resources wasted. I think many of the presidents that have been in office have done shady things, and I think Donald Trump is being made an example just because of his demeanor and personality. I’d like to see somebody honest and actually for the people and not out for personal gain. I’d like us to take care of more Americans here. But I think that Trump’s policies, when they were strict policies, were good. I just think that his presentation and the way he conducts himself in public could be a little teetered back.

Sheryl,


43, Mich., Black, independent, material handler

Unfortunately, I think I agree with Maria. Some of Trump’s things that he pushed were good. It’s just his presentation, his demeanor. But Biden — I’m a Democrat but now not really, because I think they’re too soft. I’m just like, “Say something. Do something.”

John,


58, Texas, Black, Democrat, customer service

Say something, right.

Sheryl,


43, Mich., Black, independent, material handler

I really don’t even want to step into it. You got to do your due diligence when voting, and I just think the Democrats are really soft.

John,


58, Texas, Black, Democrat, customer service

It’s going to get heated now, boys. It’s going to get hot. I’m glad you saved politics till the end, because, oh, boy.