When I asked Ted about his thoughts about the future for workers in America under Donald Trump, he said this.
“Trump ran on lowering the cost of rent, gas, and food. Instead, car insurance is through the roof, Nevadans cannot afford to buy a home and this Administration has abandoned its promises on affordability. Rather than focusing on lowering costs or going after the worst criminals, they are chasing and arresting dishwashers & landscapers and fighting culture wars. All this chaos doesn’t help working families who are living paycheck to paycheck. Republicans have dropped the ball with a clear bait-and-switch. We should protect American jobs and push for fair trade but most people did not vote for these crazy tariffs and attacks on our best allies like Canada and Mexico. “
He also didn’t hold back on criticism of the Democrats.
“At the same time, Democrats are not consistently talking about kitchen-table issues in a way that will win the Midterms.”
Ted also emphasised the importance of Nevada in future elections and how politicians need to listen to working-class voters. “Nevada is a battleground state and you cannot win here if you ignore working-class issues. Cost of living is the number one issue and some politicians seem to forget that.”
Regardless of what the political parties choose to do, Ted openly states that the union is going to support members running for office to put the issues workers care about front and centre of the political debate.
“We are going to run Culinary Union members for office who are working-class, punch-the-clock regular people. We do not need more lawyers, realtors, managers, or elite professionals in government. There are already plenty of them. In election cycles, the Culinary Union runs the largest walk-and-knock program in Nevada. No one spends more time talking directly with working-class voters, door to door, and getting people to the polls.”
Their focus is winning strong contracts, protecting our health care, fighting for homeownership, helping workers take care of their families, and putting more money in people’s pockets so they can keep up with this economy. They will support leaders who are ready to take these issues on.