The AFL-CIO, the country's largest labor organization, held its convention in Minneapolis this week with a focus on new union organizing during the second Trump administration and the upcoming midterm elections. Delegates gathered as unions face both recent organizing victories and significant political headwinds from federal policies.
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler was reelected to her position at the convention. In her acceptance speech, she highlighted what she called a major accomplishment: "We said we would organize a million new workers over the next 10 years. Well guess what? We got it done in three." The achievement comes amid ongoing challenges for organized labor, as union representation nationally remains at roughly 10% of the workforce.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats and labor allies argue that unions are facing an unprecedented assault on worker rights from the Trump administration. Shuler told delegates that when "Donald Trump ripped away the collective bargaining of 1 million federal workers," it represented "the single biggest act of union busting in American history." She added, to cheers from the crowd: "Hell no" did labor back down from that challenge.
Bernie Burnham, president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, spoke about unions' role in responding to federal immigration enforcement actions that drew nationwide attention. Minneapolis was selected as the convention site partly because of those events, which included protests against masked federal agents and resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens. "They know that if they send ICE into any of your communities, you will fight just as hard as we did," Burnham said. "And they know the labor movement will be there every single step of the way."
Jimmy Williams, president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, which represents 140,000 construction workers, described what he called a "chilling effect" under current policies. "It's amongst all workers, right? Not just union members, but nonunion workers, too," Williams said. He argued that many workers now fear speaking out about workplace issues because they worry it could cause problems for them.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservatives and some business-aligned groups have pointed to other aspects of the current administration's economic agenda as beneficial for American workers broadly. The Trump administration has emphasized domestic manufacturing, deregulation, and what officials describe as pro-growth policies that benefit both union and non-union workers in sectors like construction and energy.
Some Republican strategists note that while unions remain an important political force, their membership numbers have continued declining over decades regardless of which party holds the White House. They argue that policy approaches focused on economic expansion and worker training create more job opportunities than traditional labor priorities.
What the Numbers Show
Union membership in the United States stands at approximately 10% of the workforce, a figure that has remained relatively stable despite fluctuations in political leadership over recent years. The AFL-CIO claims to have organized one million new workers in three years under Shuler's leadership, exceeding its own stated 10-year goal.
The convention took place in Minneapolis, where protests against federal immigration enforcement drew national attention and where two U.S. citizens were killed during confrontations with authorities. The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades represents roughly 140,000 members across construction sectors nationwide.
The Bottom Line
The AFL-CIO gathering highlighted the labor movement's dual focus on expanding membership and navigating a challenging political environment ahead of November midterm elections. Shuler said unions will work to reach members through social media, targeted messaging, and one-on-one conversations about issues affecting workers. She emphasized personal outreach over purely political messaging: "People open up" through direct conversation rather than broader campaign tactics.
Union leaders acknowledge that their membership spans political perspectives, with some leaders noting that even members who voted for Trump remain open to hearing labor's case on workplace issues. The coming months will test whether unions can translate their organizing infrastructure into electoral influence as they seek to shape the political landscape heading into the midterms.