Sign up for our newsletter.

Quality journalism. Progressive values. Direct to your inbox.

Follow us:

Join the small group of generous readers who donate, keeping Common Dreams free for millions of people each year. Every donation—large or small—helps us bring you the news that matters.

Please support non-profit Common Dreams today.

To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.

There are only a few days left in our critical Mid-Year Campaign and we truly might not make it without your help.
Please join us. If you rely on independent media, support Common Dreams today. This is crunch time. We need you now.

To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.

To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.

Join the small group of generous readers who donate, keeping Common Dreams free for millions of people each year. Without your help, we won’t survive.

To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.

'Worst Mistake I Ever Made': Union Support Nosedives as Workers Express Regret for Trump Votes

"Trump is for the rich," one union member said

Jake Johnson

President Donald Trump hands out pens to workers while signing a presidential proclamation on steel and aluminium tariffs, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Michael Reynolds/European Pressphoto Agency)

Many American union workers who voted for President Donald Trump in the 2016 election are increasingly beginning to regret their decision—and realize that Trump has been firmly on the side of the rich all along.

That's according to new survey data published by Reuters on Friday, which shows that between March of 2017 and March of this year, Trump's support among union members has fallen by 15 percent.

Bolstering the growing discontent among workers revealed by the poll numbers, Reuters also conducted interviews with dozens of workers and found that they are particularly angry at Trump's $1.5 trillion tax cut, which they believe is mostly rewarding "corporations and wealthy people."

As Common Dreams has reported, that is precisely what's happening, with massive Wall Street banks and major corporations raking in record-breaking profits while workers report seeing little to no gain from the tax law.

Jesse Oberbroeckling, a 37-year-old John Deere factory worker from Iowa, told Reuters he has "buyer's remorse" over his vote for Trump and said he plans to back the Democrat challenging Rep. Rod Blum (R-Iowa) in the upcoming midterm elections.

"Trump is for the rich," Oberbroeckling said. "Blum's for big business. They said they were for the workers, but they're not."

Retired mechanic and Teamster member Ken Jones echoed Oberbroeckling's dissatisfaction with Trump, arguing that he has reneged on his promises to help the working class.

"Now I see he's not going to do anything," Jones told Reuters. "The working man don't get nothing out of it. I never voted Republican until Trump, and it was the worst mistake I ever made."

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Comments

Just a few days left in our crucial Mid-Year Campaign and we might not make it without your help.
Who funds our independent journalism? Readers like you who believe in our mission: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. No corporate advertisers. No billionaire founder. Our non-partisan, nonprofit media model has only one source of revenue: The people who read and value this work and our mission. That's it.
And the model is simple: If everyone just gives whatever amount they can afford and think is reasonable—$3, $9, $29, or more—we can continue. If not enough do, we go dark.

All the small gifts add up to something otherwise impossible. Please join us today. Donate to Common Dreams. This is crunch time. We need you now.

To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.

Latest News

See all
Sen. Patrick Leahy

Democrats Lose Senate Majority as 82-Year-Old Leahy Heads for Hip Surgery

"It could be over for the Senate Dems now," said one policy expert in response. "This could mean they effectively lost their majority."

Jon Queally ·

Power plants are seen in the U.S.

US Supreme Court Drops Carbon Bomb on the Planet

One Democratic senator warned the high court's right-wing majority "could unleash a new era of reckless deregulation that will gut protections for all Americans and the environment."

Jake Johnson ·

President Joe Biden shakes hands with Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

'Massive Betrayal': Biden Cuts Deal With McConnell to Nominate Anti-Abortion Judge

"At a time when we are fighting to protect human rights, this is a complete slap in the face."

Jake Johnson ·

Pat Cipollone

Jan. 6 Panel Subpoenas Trump White House Counsel Pat Cipollone

Noting his refusal to cooperate beyond an informal April interview, the committee's chair said that "we are left with no choice."

Jessica Corbett ·

Tlaib Levin

Sanders Pushes Back Against AIPAC Super PAC With Endorsements of Tlaib and Levin

"Once again, these extremists are pouring millions of dollars into a congressional race to try to ensure the Democratic Party advances the agenda of powerful corporations and the billionaire class."

Brett Wilkins ·

Common Dreams Logo

To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.