Solidarity Sunday: Organizing in the Big Beautiful Bill Era
My old man used to say, "Things are not like they 'ought to be', things are like they are." So here we are with the Big Beautiful Bill being passed and signed into law. Like it or not, it's the situation we all find ourselves in and we have to continue to do the work of the local union. Pouring through the biggest elements of the bill, there are some things we can capitalize on as we organize in this new reality:
The bill gives tax breaks to overtime but not job protections. We do.
Yes, the bill lets you deduct overtime from your taxes, but it does nothing to stop wage theft, misclassification, or sudden layoffs. Only local unions fight to make sure you actually get that overtime in the first place.
More construction jobs are coming in certain sectors, but many won't be safe or fair.
Billions are being poured into defense, border walls, and federal construction, but most of those contracts don't require union wages or safety standards. Non-union contractors will cut corners on safety. We don't.
The BBB cuts healthcare, so we protect yours.
Medicaid and safety net programs got slashed. That means fewer lifelines if you get hurt on the job. Union workers have health insurance you can actually count on, even between jobs.
Your pension is now more at risk, ours isn't.
This bill adds trillions to the national debt. Social Security and Medicare are likely targets next. Union pensions are negotiated, protected, and guaranteed by contract, not Congress.
Tax breaks fade after 2028. A union contract lasts longer.
The "no tax on overtime" deduction ends in 2028. Union benefits such as raises, retirement, and healthcare last for your career. You may benefit from the breaks in the short term, but you can rely on a contract for the long-term.
No one is coming to save you, except your brothers and sisters.
The bill was written for billionaires and corporations, not tradesmen. If you're not in a union, you're alone. When you're a union member, you've got people who have your back.
Non-union employers are about to undercut you.
With more federal money and no labor standards, contractors will be racing to the bottom…meaning cheaper wages, less safety. The union is your line of defense against that race.
Right-to-work means right-to-be-used. We build strength.
This bill won't change the fact that non-union workers have no Weingarten or grievance rights, no representation, and no power. Joining the union is how you flip that.
It's easier to organize when the system forgets you.
The bill proves that working people weren't part of the plan. But we've built a system that has your back. Negotiated wages, safety enforcement, and dignity on the job.
It can be argued that there are some short-term wins for working people in this bill, like a temporary tax break. And that's something to take advantage of. We are still the best option for long-term power, security, benefits, and the brotherhood/sisterhood that gets you through the tough jobs. We have always been and will continue to be the real voice of the working people, no matter what legislation gets passed, no matter who is in office, no matter who is in power. We must continue to use the tools at our disposal to continue to grow our man-hours, recruit new members, and grow our contractor role.
That will never change.