US elections 2024 live: Trump advances in key states as Harris makes star-studded final push

Natalie Sherman
New York business reporter

The last four years have seen an increase in unionization, public support for unions, and strike activity in the United States.

The latest example is Boeing, where factory workers rejected a pay offer from the company for the second time on Wednesday, prolonging the strike even further.

In theory, the rise of labor could bode well for Democrats, who have long viewed unions as an important part of their base and support issues that are key labor priorities, such as stronger protections for workers.

But that didn’t turn out to be the case, as Donald Trump appealed to his union base as a key part of his campaign.

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have received support from key organizations such as the United Autoworkers, the AFL-CIO and Boeing machinists.

But other major unions, such as the Teamsters, did not offer national support over the candidates, a sign of fierce internal divisions among their members.

This divide is especially visible in swing states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. For example, although the U.S. Steelworkers Union leadership supported Harris, Trump held rallies in Pennsylvania touting the support he received from the union’s local members.