A Better World is Still Possible: Labor leaders discuss the US elections

At a webinar on December 2, PSI Executive Board member Jan Hochadel, who serves as American Federation of Teachers (AFT) vice president in Connecticut, interviewed PSI Regional Executive member Max Arias, Executive Director of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 99 in California.

They discussed the growing influence of far-right, anti-democratic movements and their impact on workers' rights and public services in the US elections.

Both leaders stressed the urgent need for global solidarity among PSI affiliates to defend democracy, protect trade union rights, and counter rising extremism.

The Rise of Neoliberalism and the Far Right

As Ethan Young, PSI’s Sub-regional Secretary for North America, aptly noted in his opening remarks, the labor movement now faces a political and economic system rooted in neoliberalism, with privatization and austerity measures impacting workers worldwide. This system has also been a breeding ground for the far-right resurgence, a pattern evident not only in the U.S. but across France, Italy, Brazil, and India.

Hochadel remembered the stark reality is that nearly half of union members voted for Trump. "I couldn't imagine any union person voting for him, but many of them did. And it's up to us to find out why", remarks the union leader. For Hochadel, instead of condemnation, the focus must shift to understanding the concerns of these members through genuine conversations and grassroots organizing. Hochadel also emphasized the need for unions to listen more deeply and tailor their strategies to meet their members' ‘real issues - primarily surrounding economic insecurity and inequality’.

Arias highlighted the erosion of public services and labor protections under neoliberal policies, further exacerbated by Trump's first term. From stagnant wages to inflated living costs and a growing homelessness crisis, working-class Americans have borne the brunt of economic inequity. The failure of both major political parties to address these issues meaningfully has driven workers into the arms of right-wing populist rhetoric that promises, but rarely delivers solutions​.

One of the most pressing concerns discussed was Project 2025, a 966-page blueprint that aims to dismantle public sector unions, weaken labor laws, and centralize power in ways that will further erode workers’ rights. Arias and Hochadel warned that this initiative if implemented, would not only strip away public services but also drastically reduce the influence of unions across sectors. They called on the international labor community to prepare for a global fightback against these regressive policies.

As Hochadel and Arias stressed, this is not just an American issue; it is a global one. Learning from the experiences of unions in countries like Brazil and Argentina, where workers have successfully resisted authoritarian leaders, will be crucial. PSI affiliates around the world are called to amplify these struggles, create spaces for dialogue, and stand in solidarity as we push back against the tide of authoritarianism and austerity​.

The stakes have never been higher. Public sector unions are not just defending labor rights—they are defending democracy, public services, and human dignity. Hochadel concluded with a rallying cry: “We will continue to fight for all Americans to have the right to a union… Labor has never backed away from a fight yet, and we won’t back away from this one.”

The event was streamed live on PSI’s global and regional platforms. Watch it in English and Spanish.