The largest federation of unions in the country is planning to launch a campaign to stop Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, according to reports Thursday.
The AFL-CIO, at 12 million members, has a substantial amount of political influence and resources. It’s also one of the few major unions to have not yet endorsed a candidate. Nevertheless, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka plans to launch a campaign solely dedicated to derailing Trump even as many of his own members are looking to support him.
“If left unattended, the anger and the frustration [Trump has] tapped into will carry the day,” Trumka told The Washington Post. “But when you give working-class people the facts, I think he falls apart. He’s a house of cards.”
Trumka readily admits many unionized workers are starting to support Trump, but he still hopes the union can quell his momentum. The union will try to mobilize members and supporters on the grassroots level in order to educate voters on how Trump has supported anti-worker, anti-union policies.
“We’ll have literally millions of phone calls, leaflets, door knocks, rallies and seminars,” Trumka continued. “We’ve allowed ourselves to be beat … year after year after year.”
Trumka told the paper that part of the plan will involve working directly with activist groups who have a history of grassroots mobilizing. The union-backed Fight for $15 movement for instance has been able to make the living wage an important political issue. Trumka said his organization has basically provided a blank check for the campaign in order to do all it takes to defeat Trump.
The AFL-CIO has already been one of the more relentless labor groups to oppose Trump. It declared him its loser of the week Feb. 22 over a labor dispute his Las Vegas hotel is having, and again Feb. 29 for saying he likes right-to-work. Trumka also accused Trump of trying to divide immigrant families Jan. 4, presumably in reference to his stance against illegal immigration.
Immigration has been a defining attribute of the Trump campaign — calling for tougher immigration controls and even proposing a temporary ban on Muslims. The Muslim ban proposal came in the wake of Islamic terrorist attacks across the globe, including the simultaneous attacks across Paris in November. His policy stance has been denounced by both parties.
The AFL-CIO is not the only union to denounce Trump and his bid for the White House. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has condemned him on numerous occasions, even calling his rhetoric extremist. International Association of Machinists President Tom Buffenbarger stated Dec. 10 that his campaign is based in fear mongering and racism.
The Trump campaign did not respond to request for comment by The Daily Caller News Foundation.
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