President Donald Trump believes that his tariffs will lead to a resurgence in factory jobs. However, without a strong union presence, these jobs may result in low wages and high injury rates, a situation currently prevalent in many Southern factories, according to labor historian Eric Blanc. Blanc advocates for a widespread unionization campaign across factories, retail stores, and other workplaces, especially as President Trump works to dismantle existing union protections through various policies.
During a Rose Garden ceremony, President Trump assured that the tariffs would restore the factory jobs that once symbolized America’s economic strength. A retired member of the United Auto Workers union expressed optimism about the reopening of a plant, reinforcing Trump’s promise. However, labor historian and Rutgers University professor Eric Blanc argued this week that Trump’s promise of good jobs might devolve into a situation where factories hire workers at low wages and offer little or no benefits if unions are not involved. Blanc emphasized that being supportive of factories does not equate to being supportive of workers. He reminded that the image of factory jobs as quality employment stems from unionization efforts in the mid-20th century. Prior to the unionization wave of the 1930s and 1940s, factory conditions were described as dire, often being unsafe and authoritarian.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in 1912 and 1913, industrial accidents claimed the lives of over 20,000 workers, despite the workforce being significantly smaller than today. Sinclair’s novel, “The Jungle,” highlighted the grim conditions of early 20th-century meatpacking plants that employed young immigrant workers for low wages. Blanc cited the manufacturing expansion in the U.S. South since the 1990s, where unsafe working conditions have persisted. According to a Bloomberg cover story from the first Trump administration, incidents of severe injuries were common in auto factories in the region.
Blanc noted that accident rates in the Southern factories are four times higher than the national average, with one-third of manufacturing workers relying on government assistance. The University of California, Berkeley Labor Center found that pay for manufacturing workers has lagged behind their non-manufacturing counterparts since the mid-2000s.
Blanc stated that unionization can enhance working conditions in both factories and service sectors. Union members typically earn more and have better job security than non-unionized workers. For example, in heavily unionized hotel sectors in New York and Las Vegas, workers are expected to earn between $28 and $37 per hour on average by the end of their contracts.
Blanc argued that large-scale unionization is essential, given that the majority of American jobs are in the service sector. According to economist Paul Krugman, even an optimistic scenario of manufacturing growth would leave the sector representing only 12.5% of U.S. employment, far below its historic levels. Blanc emphasized that America’s workforce will remain service-oriented, similar to trends in industrialized nations like Germany and Japan.
Blanc acknowledged that a mass unionization movement is challenging, especially in an environment where less than 10% of workers are unionized. The Trump administration has reportedly taken steps to weaken collective bargaining rights. Among these actions, Trump has dismissed a Democratic member of the National Labor Relations Board and attempted to end collective bargaining agreements for federal workers.
According to Blanc, Trump’s policies weaken labor protections, signaling to other employers that compliance with labor laws is not necessary. White House spokesperson Kush Desai responded to criticisms by dismissing expert predictions and asserting that Trump’s policies would once again “restore American Greatness.”
Blanc pointed out that, despite political challenges, organized labor efforts have gained momentum. For instance, workers at a Whole Foods in Philadelphia recently joined a union, and Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant voted to unionize. Unions organized more new members under President George W. Bush than under President Barack Obama, and support for unions among Republicans has grown, with 49% of Republicans expressing approval.
Blanc concluded by stating that merely promising more factory jobs would not bring prosperity. However, collective bargaining could transform any job, including those outside of manufacturing, into quality employment.
