Donald Trump’s promise to make tips tax-free has not been enough to attract gaming and hospitality workers toward his cause. Members of UNITE HERE are doubtful that the former president would be able to deliver on his promise, should he get reelected.
According to UNITE HERE’s president, Gwen Mills, Trump was simply making a play for votes. Conversely, Kamala Harris, who became the Democrats’ candidate after President Joe Biden pulled out from the race, has a proven track record of supporting unions.
Her [Harris’] record of unwavering commitment to working people makes her an inspirational and formidable leader. Harris has stood alongside us, advocating for the rights of workers, unlike Donald Trump, a hotel and casino owner with a record of labor abuses, who has consistently crossed union picket lines.
Nia Winston, secretary-treasurer, UNITE HERE
As a result, UNITE HERE expressed firm support for Vice President Harris’ bid for the presidency. In its official release, the union, renowned for delivering on close elections, said that it is mobilizing members to knock on over 3.3 million doors in “key battlegrounds” across America.
The hospitality union’s members have committed to visiting homes in states such as Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, and Michigan to ensure Harris wins the elections.
Unions Are Wary of Trump’s Promises
This echoes the stances of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and the Bartenders Union Local 165 on the matter. When Trump announced his intention to strike down taxes on tips, the two unions expressed skepticism about the promise.
Trump, for context, had addressed tipped workers, promising them that they will be “very happy” once he slashes the taxes on tips. The promise was made during a June 9 rally in Nevada, highlighting the ex-POTUS’s ambition to win the presidency back.
Culinary secretary treasurer Ted Pappageorge acknowledged that workers have been treated unfairly but noted that “Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.”
Not everyone was as cynical, though, as Nevada’s Democratic senators, Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto, were on board with Trump’s proposal.
Harris Is Gaining Traction
In the meantime, Harris continues to follow in Biden’s footsteps, adopting many of his economic goals. In addition, the vice president has promised to make unionizing easier for workers – another attractive proposal that is certain to affect the decision of many casino and hospitality workers.
While Trump’s popularity has been steadily growing, bolstered by his aggressive campaigning, attractive promises and recent survival of an assassination attempt, his adversary has proven especially efficient in attracting support from labor unions.
In any case, the US presidential elections are turning out to be a goldmine for political betting operators worldwide, with estimates suggesting that roughly $1 billion has been wagered on the outcome.
