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KSHB 41 Action News
How labor unions could impact the 2024 general election
By Charlie Keegan,
4 hours ago
KSHB 41 reporter Charlie Keegan covers politics on both sides of the state line. If you have a story idea to share, you can send Charlie an email at charlie.keegan@kshb.com .
Labor Day is a time for Tristin Amezcua-Hogan to reflect.
As editor of the KC Labor Beacon , Amezcua-Hogan understands how politics can impact a person’s work and life.
“By choosing a job which has a union, you’re choosing to participate in a job that requires politics to back up its existence,” he said.
KSHB 41 News staff Tristin Amezcua-Hogan
From truck drivers to nurses and electricians to teachers, unions represent tens of thousands of workers in the Kansas City region.
Democratic politicians are typically pro-union candidates, but Republicans are increasingly blurring the line.
Most notably Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley has come out supporting private unions.
His economic policy centers on cutting income tax.
Amezcua-Hogan admitted the individual members of each union have their own viewpoints on political issues separate from labor policies.
But he believes most union members will vote for the candidates their unions endorse.
“Once they see the information that’s out there about each candidate, they’ll vote the pocketbook, vote to protect your union, and vote to make sure we have another day to fight,” Amezcua-Hogan said.
He pointed out unions want candidates who will support their rights to collectively bargain for better pay, safety, and improved benefits like healthcare, retirement, and paid time off.
Opponents to unions said they can collect too much in dues from workers, can make it harder to fire a bad employee, and can create tension between management and employees.
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