Crush the Workers, Feed the Bosses: How Trump’s War on Labor is Killing Wages, Unions, and Worker Rights
If you work for a living, buckle up—because Trump and his Republican enablers are coming for your paycheck, your union, and your basic rights on the job. The billionaires are in charge, and their goal is simple: weaken labor protections, drive wages down, and make sure workers stay powerless.
Union-Busting on Steroids
Trump’s labor policies are a dream come true for corporate America and a nightmare for everyone else. His administration has stacked the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) with anti-union cronies, setting the stage for gutting the pro-worker policies Biden put in place.
- “Schedule F” is back—a move that strips federal employees of job protections and lets Trump purge government workers who won’t fall in line.
- Republicans are pushing national “right-to-work” laws, making it harder for unions to organize and fight for better pay.
- Union elections are under attack, and companies now feel emboldened to crack down on organizing efforts without consequence.
Under Biden, workers had momentum. Union wins at Amazon, Starbucks, and beyond signaled a revival in labor activism. More workers were organizing, winning contracts, and demanding a bigger piece of the profits they created. That terrified the corporate elite and their Republican allies.
Trump’s response? Crush the movement before it can grow. By gutting the NLRB, reinstating “Schedule F” to fire government workers at will, and backing national right-to-work laws, Trump is ensuring that corporations—not workers—keep all the leverage.
This isn’t about “helping businesses thrive”—businesses are already making record profits. It’s about keeping workers too weak to demand higher wages, safer conditions, and fair treatment. It’s about making sure power stays where it has always been: with the wealthy and well-connected.
Stalled Wages, Stagnant Paychecks
It’s 2025, and the federal minimum wage is still $7.25 an hour—the same as it was in 2009. Adjusted for inflation, that’s worth less than it was in the 1950s.
- Biden pushed for a $15 minimum wage, plus stronger overtime rules to lift middle-class wages.
- Trump’s allies killed those efforts, ensuring millions stay trapped in poverty-level jobs.
- A Trump-appointed judge struck down expanded overtime pay, blocking raises for 4 million workers.
The result? Corporations keep profits high, while workers’ pay stagnates. Even as the labor market tightened in recent years, Trump’s rollback of wage protections means any gains made are quickly being erased.
Making It Easier to Exploit Workers
Trump’s government is making sure companies can misclassify workers, dodge labor laws, and avoid paying fair wages.
- Gig workers and contractors lose protections, making it harder to unionize or demand fair pay.
- OSHA enforcement is slashed, meaning more dangerous workplaces and fewer consequences for abusive employers.
- Davis-Bacon prevailing wage laws are under attack, a move designed to cut pay for construction workers on federal projects.
The bottom line? Companies get freer rein to exploit workers, pay them less, and ignore safety rules—because under Trump, the government isn’t stopping them.
The Billionaire Agenda: Keep Workers Powerless
Biden was the most pro-union president in modern history. His administration took real steps to empower workers and level the playing field. Trump’s administration is doing the opposite—tipping the scales so businesses win and workers lose.
This isn’t just bad policy—it’s deliberate. The people in power know exactly what they’re doing. They’re gutting labor protections, not because the economy demands it, but because a strong labor movement threatens their control.
And if you think this doesn’t affect you? Think again.
Even if you’re not in a union, even if you think this is someone else’s fight, you are feeling the effects—maybe without even realizing it.
- Your paycheck is smaller. Companies aren’t raising wages because they don’t have to. They know the government won’t pressure them, and without strong unions setting industry standards, they can pay you less and get away with it.
- Your rent keeps rising, but your wages don’t. The cost of living keeps going up, but your paycheck doesn’t stretch as far. Meanwhile, corporations rake in record profits, CEOs take home tens of millions, and hedge funds buy up housing while workers get squeezed.
- Your job is more unstable. At-will employment, misclassification, and the erosion of labor protections mean your boss can fire you for any reason—or no reason at all. Try pushing back, and you’ll be replaced by someone desperate enough to take even less.
- Your workplace is less safe. With OSHA enforcement gutted, corners are being cut. If you get injured on the job? Good luck fighting for fair compensation when the system is designed to protect the company, not you.
- Your kids’ futures are at risk. Wages are stagnant, education costs are rising, and job security is disappearing. What kind of opportunities will they have in a country where workers have no power and billionaires set the rules?
This isn’t just an attack on unions—it’s an attack on every worker in America. The game is rigged so that no matter how hard you work, the rewards go to the people already at the top.
They don’t want you to rise up. They don’t want you to demand better. They want you exhausted, overworked, and too afraid to fight back.
And as long as they keep you powerless, they win.
