No matter who tops the Democratic Party presidential ticket, millions of working-class voters will see that the “choices” offered will not represent them.
They are also alarmed to see a reactionary juggernaut gutting decades of hard-won gains. Meanwhile, Democrats remain impotent in countering the right, sometimes even joining in attacks (see sidebar below). Without organized pro-worker opposition, the far-right assault will escalate. This is why now is the time to seriously discuss a working-class electoral alternative, such as a labor party capable of confronting the right in the streets and at the ballot box.
Ready to rumble
Many workers are not passively accepting today’s grim status quo.
California’s university system illustrates just how far academic employees are willing to go. In May, after police and right-wing thugs attacked a pro-Palestine encampment at UCLA, Local 4811 of United Auto Workers (UAW) launched a political strike to defend free speech. The 48,000-strong union includes many members who abhor U.S. military aid for Israel and genocide in Gaza.
Within the UAW International, members have formed UAW for Palestine, which is devoted to ending “Israel’s genocide in Gaza.” They are demanding UAW rescind its endorsement of President Biden over his support for Israeli war crimes.
A national group of teachers, Educators for Palestine, has launched a similar effort to revoke their union’s endorsement of Biden.
No doubt many of these troublemakers will hear their leadership harangue them to vote for the Democrats. “This is the most important election ever,” leaders will say — as they do every election season when pushing lesser-evil politics.
But the fear behind the lesser-evil mantra is losing its grip. Decades of that charade have reaped endless war, racism, immigrant bashing, climate catastrophe, intensifying exploitation, etc. The millions of people who honestly toil for a living can see that things keep getting worse no matter which corporate shill occupies the White House. The one choice workers never see on the ballot is a political party that talks and walks their class interests — a choice urgently needed.
Labor? Really? Yes!
The building of a mass party that unites the working class could turn the tide in favor of the exploited and oppressed majority. A key place to start is in the labor movement, which extends far beyond recognized unions. Labor includes young fighters organizing Starbucks and Amazon, strawberry pickers forming independent unions, Uber drivers associating despite their “independent contractor” label.
Why unions? For starters, unions have resources, organizing capacity, and an organizational structure for millions of workers. Just look at the tons of labor dollars spent on electing Democrats. Or the countless hours spent stumping for candidates who betray workers after election day.
Of course, many union tops are comfortable with the status quo. For decades unions have stuck with the Democrats. Misleaders can be expected to fiercely oppose any effort to build a political alternative.
To surmount these hurdles the effort to build a working-class party must be welded with the struggle to transform unions into democratic, fighting machines. Already, many unionists are forming caucuses to win a greater voice. They are making gains as a result, and bucking leaders when necessary.
Employees at Mack Trucks did that in October 2023 when they rejected a contract promoted by UAW officials. Instead of accepting a two-tier system and insufficient wages they went on strike and showed that members call the shots. Labor party members could also run the show and hold candidates accountable for carrying out a pro-worker program.
What kind of party?
To provide what is needed, a labor party must champion the interests of the whole working class, including those who are unorganized, undocumented, unemployed and lowest paid. And not just in the electoral arena; coalition building, mass action and street heat are essential too.
Numerous organizations point the way: the National Mobilization for Reproductive Justice (NMRJ) is calling on the AFL-CIO to hold an emergency labor conference for reproductive rights (see Page 12). Amy Chin-Lai, president of Nonprofit Professional Employees Union, explains, “We must create a powerful movement that transcends the workplace and reaches into every corner of society.”
Railroad Workers United is organizing across craft lines and campaigning for public ownership of the railroads. Likewise, Southern Workers’ Assembly seeks to “organize the unorganized working class across the South.” It centers the leadership of Black workers and views independent political action as key to building worker power.
To be transformative, a labor party must embrace democracy and be inclusive of more than just unions. It cannot be dominated by heads of large unions.
Such a party must also have a program that confronts the capitalist system and offers pro-worker solutions to current woes. This means putting the creators of wealth in the driver’s seat. Imagine a political party calling for nationalization of major industries under workers’ control, including banking, energy, healthcare, and transportation. The party would also tackle social injustices, such as the murder and mass incarceration of Black and brown people, and attacks on bodily autonomy.
A better future is possible
All those who labor for a living will seek solutions to escape the squeeze of capitalism’s decline. Trump and the far right offer scapegoating and austerity to divide and conquer the working class. Biden and the Democrats are offering a lesser version of the same evil.
A genuinely pro-worker party offering real solutions to social ills could provide the alternative that folks urgently need to repel this far-right dystopia. It could become a force in a powerful movement to construct a brighter future, “an aspirin the size of the sun” to the planet and all its peoples.
What are your thoughts?
Send your comments on a labor party to FSPus@socialism.com. We will publish some responses in a future issue of the Freedom Socialist.
Sidebar: Is there really a lesser evil?
Some of the ways Biden’s presidency diligently carried out the two-party corporate agenda.
Imperialist. While supporting Israel’s war against Gaza, Biden has pushed the annual U.S. war budget to nearly a trillion dollars.
Anti-immigrant. Biden’s adminstration continued the move to the right on border policies, including deporting practically all asylum seekers.
Strike-breaking. When rail workers were ready to walk out in 2022 over harsh working conditions, Biden got Congress to ban the strike. This should have been a red line for labor.
U.S. voters with unfavorable views of BOTH Democrat and Republican parties
1994 6%
2008 15%
2023 28%
Source: Pew Research Center
