It’s Labor Day! A day to celebrate workers and their achievements. If only Trump, his administration and the Republican politicians who abet him were on board.
In March, 2025, Trump, in spite of claims of “putting American workers first,” ended collective bargaining for the TSA, as well as for more than one million federal workers represented by unions at more than a dozen federal agencies. Labor historian Joseph McCarten stated that this was “by far the largest single action of union-busting in American history.” For Trump, evidently union busting begins at home.
Dr Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said, “If we could get the average American to start working a year earlier out of high school or work a year later before they retire” it would “increase the overall GDP of our nation by trillions of dollars.” We don’t celebrate you, dear worker, we want you to work more! Work longer!
Then we have Trump’s resurfaced post on Truth Social from June of 2025 (possibly in a snit-fest over Juneteenth) writing, “Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all these businesses closed.” It’s all about business, not about you, dear worker.
And while Trump and Co urge us to work more, they work less. Senator Mitch McConnell has been MIA since June; still getting paid, still getting health benefits, still has his job. NJ Representative Tom Kean Jr was mysteriously absent for four months, missing 140 votes, all while receiving his pay for doing nothing. But he’s back now, campaigning for reelection to this cushy (non)job. House Leader Mike Johnson just cancelled the final two weeks of the September session, sending the politicians home early. They won’t be back until November 9. Doing the math, the House will be in session only 4 days from July 24 to after the mid-terms. Four days. Full pay. Donald Trump has logged 132 days, or about 22% of his time since January on the golf links chasing a little white ball for 18 holes. Our tax dollars (not) at work.
It’s Labor Day, and we celebrate those who work. If only our President and his Republican brethren had the will, honor and grace to do so as well.