The Labor Movement Needs a Collective Anti-Trump Strategy – Jacobin

Report on the Role of the Labor Movement in Upholding Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report analyzes the critical role of the organized labor movement in addressing political and economic challenges that threaten the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It outlines the current state of labor organizations, identifies significant threats to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and proposes a strategic framework for collective action. The report emphasizes the necessity of revitalizing union structures and forging multi-stakeholder partnerships (SDG 17) to advance a pro-democracy agenda centered on reducing inequalities (SDG 10) and ensuring sustainable communities (SDG 11).

The Imperative for Labor Action in Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

Threats to SDG 8 and SDG 16

Recent political developments represent a significant challenge to the principles of sustainable development. The elimination of collective bargaining rights for a million federal workers constitutes a direct assault on SDG 8, specifically Target 8.8, which calls for the protection of labor rights and the promotion of safe and secure working environments. Such actions undermine the institutional frameworks necessary for decent work and contribute to the erosion of democratic processes, directly contravening the objectives of SDG 16, which seeks to build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

The Current State of Labor and its Impact on SDG 10

The labor movement’s capacity to advocate for the 2030 Agenda is hampered by internal fragmentation and a significant decline in union density, which has fallen from representing one in four workers in 1980 to one in nine today. This decline correlates with a rise in economic disparity, undermining progress toward SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Despite these challenges, unions remain one of the most diverse and democratic civil society institutions, representing a crucial vehicle for promoting the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, as outlined in Target 10.2.

Strategic Framework for Aligning Labor with the 2030 Agenda

Revitalizing Local Action for Global Goals

The foundation for a revitalized labor movement lies in strengthening local union affiliates. Successful models from educators’ unions in Chicago, Los Angeles, and the Twin Cities demonstrate a strategic shift toward member-centric organizing and collective action. These efforts have successfully integrated broader societal concerns into their bargaining, a strategy known as “Bargaining for the Common Good.”

• Supermajority Organizing: Engaging every worker, including nonmembers, to build collective power.
• Bargaining for the Common Good: Advocating for demands that advance community-wide goals, such as affordable housing (SDG 11), climate resilience policies (SDG 13), and racial justice (SDG 10).
• Community-Integrated Electoral Work: Applying organizing methods to build lasting relationships between union members and their communities to advance shared political objectives.

Building Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (SDG 17)

Isolated actions are insufficient; achieving the SDGs requires robust partnerships. The formation of coalitions like May Day Strong and the “Workers Over Billionaires” campaign illustrates the potential of Target 17.17 (Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships). By aligning with community organizations and national progressive networks, labor can amplify its message and mobilize a broader base of support for actions that challenge economic inequality and defend democratic institutions.

Leveraging Economic Influence for Social Progress

Coordinated labor actions in strategic economic sectors can create a multiplier effect, advancing progress on multiple SDGs. Key sectors with union density possess the ability to disrupt economic activity and create leverage for policy change.

1. Logistics and Transportation: Actions in ports, airports, and warehouse delivery systems can highlight the importance of decent work (SDG 8) in global supply chains.
2. Social Reproduction Sectors: Disruptions in K-12 schools, universities, hospitals, and public transit (SDG 11) directly impact the public, creating significant pressure for investment in social infrastructure and public services.

Proposed Tactics and Pathways to Implementation

Coordinated Collective Actions

To counter policies detrimental to sustainable development, a range of coordinated tactics is necessary. While traditional strikes remain a powerful tool, other forms of collective action can be deployed to build momentum and engage a wider audience.

• Aligned Contract Expirations: The United Auto Workers’ call to align contract expirations around May 1, 2028, provides a model for creating moments of peak leverage across different sectors.
• Focused Sick-Outs: Legally constrained workers can utilize sick days for targeted, short-term actions with clear demands, as demonstrated by the 2006 immigrant rights mobilizations. This tactic can be used to protest the erosion of civil liberties and protect vulnerable populations (SDG 10, SDG 16).

Consumer-Driven Advocacy and Corporate Accountability

Consumer boycotts offer a powerful mechanism for holding corporations accountable for their role in undermining sustainable development. By targeting corporations aligned with anti-democratic and anti-labor agendas, the labor movement can leverage the collective purchasing power of its members and allies to demand corporate responsibility in line with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the broader 2030 Agenda.

Strengthening Democratic Institutions (SDG 16)

Ultimately, all proposed actions serve the goal of strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring responsive, inclusive, and participatory decision-making (Target 16.7). By forming municipal alliances to protect residents, demanding fair taxation to fund public services, and resisting the overreach of federal power, the labor movement can position itself as a central pillar in the defense of democracy and the advancement of a just, equitable, and sustainable future for all.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The article’s core focus is on the labor movement, workers’ rights, unionization, and collective action to improve working conditions.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The article explicitly frames the struggle as “Workers Over Billionaires,” targeting the “billionaire class” and “right-wing oligarchs,” and advocates for policies that promote economic and social justice.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – A central theme is the role of unions in defending democracy, opposing authoritarianism, and protecting civil liberties, which relates to building strong, inclusive institutions.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article repeatedly emphasizes the necessity of forming coalitions and partnerships between different unions, community organizations, and national networks to achieve common goals.
• SDG 4: Quality Education – The article frequently uses examples from teacher unions fighting for improved public education, such as smaller class sizes and better staffing, as part of a “Bargaining for the common good” strategy.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers. The article is fundamentally about this target. It discusses the “elimination of union rights for a million federal workers,” the “staggering loss of union density,” and the need for the labor movement to defend “the rights of union and nonunionized workers under assault.” The entire call to action is to strengthen unions to better protect labor rights.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. The article highlights that unions are “internally diverse institutions” with members of “different races, religions, countries of origin, genders, and political views.” The strategy of “Bargaining for the common good” includes fighting for “racial justice,” directly aligning with this target.
  • Target 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality. The push for “better wages and benefits” through collective action and contract fights is a direct effort to achieve greater wage equality. The article also mentions the potential for municipal alliances to “tax billionaires,” which is a fiscal policy aimed at reducing inequality.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. The article posits unions as “one of the most durable, democratic, and internally diverse institutions we have” and calls for them to be at the “center of the burgeoning antiauthoritarian movement” to build a “broader pro-democracy coalition.” This highlights the role of civil society organizations (unions) in ensuring participatory democracy.
  • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements. The article discusses the need to oppose “attacks on civil liberties and workers’ rights.” The fight against an authoritarian government that is “snuffing out an already-shrinking labor movement” is a direct defense of the fundamental freedom of association.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. The article is a blueprint for building such partnerships. It details the formation of “labor-community coalitions” like the “May Day Strong coalition,” which brought together “UAW, Communications Workers of America (CWA), SEIU, UNITE HERE,” and others. It also describes collaborations between unions and “national community networks” and “community organizations” to achieve shared political and social goals.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  • Target 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all. The article cites the campaign by California educator locals to push for “more staffing” and “smaller class sizes.” These demands directly contribute to creating more effective learning environments.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 8 (Target 8.8)

  • Union Density: The article provides a clear, quantifiable indicator of the state of labor rights by citing the decline in union representation from “one in four US workers in 1980” to “just one in nine” today. Reversing this trend would be a primary measure of progress.
  • Number of Workers with Union Rights: The article mentions the loss of rights for “a million federal workers.” The number of workers covered by collective bargaining agreements is a key indicator.

• For SDG 16 (Target 16.7)

  • Participation in Demonstrations and Events: The article quantifies the success of its organizing efforts by noting that Labor Day actions grew from “an initial twenty-five BBQs” to “1,200 events in all fifty states.” The number of events and participants in protests and actions serves as an indicator of public participation in civil society.

• For SDG 17 (Target 17.17)

  • Number and Scope of Coalitions: The article implicitly uses the formation of partnerships as an indicator of success. It names specific coalitions like “May Day Strong” and the “California Alliance for Community Schools” (involving “thirty-two locals”) and lists the various unions and community groups involved. The number and diversity of organizations participating in joint campaigns can be measured.

• For SDG 4 (Target 4.a)

  • Class Size and Staffing Ratios: The demands of teacher unions for “smaller class sizes” and “more staffing” are specific, measurable indicators that can be tracked through contract negotiations and school district data to assess progress toward better learning environments.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: jacobin.com