Longshoremen's Union EVP heaps praise on Trump: "Let's put politics aside for a moment..."
Interesting. Trump 2.0 appears to be taking on a different, less confrontational approach to some unions than he did in the first Trump administration.
By Peter List, Editor | December 15, 2024
In what is likely puzzling to many inside and outside the union and business world, as his return to the White House in January approaches, President-elect Donald Trump appears to be taking a quite different approach to unions than during his first term.
Following his reelection, for example, at the behest of Teamsters’ President Sean O’Brien, Trump was quick to pick Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a one-term Oregon representative and one of only three Republican co-sponsors of the PRO Act, as his nominee for Secretary of Labor.
Then, last week, Trump met with the leaders of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), President Harold Daggett and his son Executive Vice President Dennis Daggett, and, surprisingly, threw his support behind the ILA in its dispute over automation with the U.S. Maritime Association (USMX)
“They [the employers] shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt,” Trump stated last week. “They’ve got record profits, and I’d rather these foreign companies spend it on the great men and women on our docks, than machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.”
Following last week’s meeting between Trump and the Daggetts, Dennis Daggett took to the union’s Facebook page to promote Trump to his union’s members, stating1:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I had the honor of meeting with President-elect Donald Trump yesterday, and I want to share an experience I never imagined in my wildest dreams. Throughout my career, I’ve never seen a politician—let alone the President of the United States—truly understand the importance of the work our members do every single day. But yesterday, President-elect Trump not only demonstrated that understanding but also showed the utmost respect for the hard work, sacrifices, and dedication of our membership.
He was not just attentive to our concerns; he was receptive and genuinely engaged in a discussion about the existential threat automation poses—not only to the Longshore sector but to our communities and the very fabric of this great nation. It’s rare to meet a leader who truly listens, and even rarer to find one who is willing to act.
Let’s put politics aside for a moment, as I know it can be challenging for some to grasp. But I witnessed something extraordinary firsthand—this man truly wants to fight for America and its working class. In over 25 years of working in Washington, I have never seen a Republican take up the mantle for working-class people. President-elect Trump proved me wrong yesterday.
He didn’t just tell us in private that he supports workers—he made it clear to the whole world.
As we move forward, let us focus on the opportunities ahead. I will continue to fight for your jobs, our communities, and the future of the working class in this country.
In solidarity,
Dennis A. Daggett
Executive Vice President
International Longshoremen’s Association
After Daggett posted his praise about Trump on Facebook, on Saturday, Trump re-posted Daggett’s post on his Truth Social platform.
This prompted Daggett, on Sunday, to post more praise on Trump to his Facebook page, stating:
I am truly humbled and deeply honored to see President Trump take the time to read and share my words about the hardworking men and women of the ILA and the unwavering support he has given to our membership. It’s a moment I’ll never forget, and I am beyond grateful for the recognition he’s given not just to me, but to every single member of the ILA.
I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the members of the International Longshoremen’s Association. Representing you and your families is the greatest privilege of my life. Your hard work, sacrifices, and dedication to keeping America’s commerce moving inspire me every day.
Thank you, Mr. President, for acknowledging the ILA and its proud history, and thank you to the members of the ILA for allowing me the honor of representing you and your Families….
While leaders from both the ILA and the Teamsters appear to be warming up to the incoming Trump 2.0 Presidency, few other unions seem to be on board. Public-sector union members, for example, fearful of the incoming administration.
“Federal employees are scrubbing their Facebook and X accounts for any negative posts about Trump,” the Detroit News noted last week. “Some, including at least one prominent official who testified in Trump’s first impeachment inquiry, are weighing putting in retirement papers, while others maneuver to transfer to seemingly safer agencies.”
Meanwhile, federal employees “in environmental and energy agencies are racing to lock in or extend union contracts in the waning days of President Joe Biden’s term with hopes of shielding employees from the incoming Trump administration.”
Putting politics aside (to borrow from Daggett), the incoming new Trump administration appears to be shaping up to be far different from the last Trump administration.
Emphasis added.