Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have each pledged to improve conditions for workers if they are successful in their presidential bids. However, the two candidates have significantly different positions on numerous worker-related issues, including minimum wage levels, overtime compensation, and the role of labor unions.
Key Issues Diverging the Candidates:
1. Minimum Wage:
The federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 per hour since 2009. Harris regards this as insufficient, labeling it as "poverty wages" since it equates to an annual income of $15,000 for full-time workers. She has expressed a desire to raise this wage to at least $15 per hour, though she acknowledges that she would need congressional support for this initiative. In contrast, Trump had previously agreed during a presidential debate four years ago to consider a $15 minimum wage, provided it doesn’t negatively impact small businesses. However, during a recent appearance at a McDonald’s, he avoided committing to a stance on raising the minimum wage, instead focusing on praising workers and the franchise systems that employ them.
2. Overtime Pay:
Both candidates recognize the prevalence of overtime work in the U.S., but they have different perspectives on which workers should qualify for overtime pay. The Biden-Harris administration enacted a rule earlier this year that increased overtime pay eligibility for an additional 4 million workers, though it is currently challenged in court. During his presidency, Trump did not defend an Obama-era rule with similar intentions. Instead, he established his own rule, thereby reducing the number of workers eligible for overtime pay. His proposed changes detailed in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 suggest a renovation of federal overtime rules aimed at providing employers with more flexibility. Although Trump has voiced a dislike for paying overtime based on his experiences as a private-sector employer, he proposed to make overtime wages tax-free, a plan criticized by analysts for its potential to significantly increase the national debt.
3. Manufacturing Job Creation:
While it is unlikely any president could restore the previous prominence of manufacturing in America, Trump has appealed to white, working-class voters by promising to revive and safeguard manufacturing jobs, including through reduced corporate tax rates for domestic manufacturers and tariffs on imported goods. Economists caution that such tariffs could lead to higher prices overall, affecting even U.S. manufacturers. Harris aims to regain voters’ trust by highlighting legislative accomplishments like the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, which have facilitated manufacturing and construction employment. She promises to extend tax benefits to firms that produce union jobs, focusing on sectors like steel and iron.
4. Labor Unions:
The candidates have the most significant divergence in their views on labor unions. Harris supports strengthening unions and has advocated for the passage of the PRO Act, which seeks to simplify workers’ ability to organize. Her administration has emphasized this through the National Labor Relations Board’s actions. On the other hand, Trump, during his presidency, cut back on federal employee unions and advocated for Right to Work laws. He appointed corporate-friendly individuals to the Labor Department and National Labor Relations Board, and Project 2025 outlines more steps to further reduce unions’ influence.
5. Noncompete Agreements:
Noncompete agreements have not been a central issue in this presidential race, yet they remain a topic of interest because many Americans are bound by such clauses. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted along party lines to prohibit such agreements earlier this year, arguing they depress wages and hinder innovation. However, implementation of the ban has been impeded due to a federal judge’s ruling against it, noting the FTC overstepped its authority. Harris has expressed the viewpoint that these agreements are "anti-worker" and has supported the FTC’s ban, although she hasn’t prominently discussed this during her campaign. Trump has not vocalized a stance on noncompetes in the current race. Interestingly, Eugene Scalia, Trump’s former labor secretary, is among the attorneys representing Ryan LLC in its lawsuit against the FTC. In 2016, Trump’s own campaign utilized broad noncompetes.
Both candidates continue to campaign on issues central to the workforce, setting distinct pathways through their varied approaches and policy proposals.
