In all industries there are group or subgroups who benefit from one party or the other in the White House. Although the political parties are supposed to reach out to everyone, some groups automatically favor one party or another. Generally, in the business world those who favor less regulations tend to be closer to the Republican party, those who see more regulations closer to the Democrat party. Those who own businesses tend to favor the Republican party and those who organize people at work or unions stewards and higher tend to favor the Democrats. Although it is easy to find people going back and forth. the tendency to favor one or another is based on while attempting to pass laws or regulations on the industry, the starting point is easy for one party or the other. It does not mean the laws are easier, just the starting point is easier.

In the recent Presidential election, organized labor placed greater help on the Democrat party because they saw the alternative as bleak for them. Although in the past election many who work in unions voted for President Trump as President and then down ballot Democrat.

In an article by Jonathan Weisman and Benjamin Oreskes of the New York Times News Service, unions spent $43 million into the Harris campaign, according to Open Secrets. The unions also spent money and time on phone banks, canvassing operations, education and persuasion efforts with their members and outreach to non-union working-class households.

While that sounds a lot, 3 billionaires gave the Republican campaign at least $150 million. The 3 were Elon Musk, Timothy Melon and Miriam Adeson of the Las Vegas Sands.

Unions represent less than 10% of the private sector workforce. They have a majority of public sector workers.

Many non-union voters picked President Trump and they trust him. Although in his first term, he appointed union foes to the National Labor Relations Board. The people made it harder to organize workers to vote for collective bargaining. His secretaries of labor were not pro-union.

This election President Trump court union workers with policies such as end income taxation on tips and overtime. (many years ago, working for a union shop the biggest raises received were the increase in minimum wage, the company managed to keep employee costs at inflation). President Trump had Sean O’Brien of the Teamsters address the Republican convention.

Union leaders such as Shawn Fain of the UAW were all in for the Democrats.

In Nevada, the biggest industry is tourism tied to gambling and the employees of the hotels are unionized and belong to unions such as Culinary Workers. They were helping the Democrats.

If an employee works for the government or the public sector union. They are bracing for a fight because Project 2025, suggested eliminating such unions altogether. The phrase is Congress should consider whether public-sector unions are appropriate in the first place. (Congress can say they are appropriate.) Typically, Republicans do not like teachers’ unions.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, some companies you invest in have strong unions and are profitable and that includes utility companies. Some companies have to watch their labor costs as their margins are thin and there is a whole range in between. When you invest in a profitable company that can pay a dividend, part of it is understanding the cost structure including salaries and benefits. Why does the margin hold strong to keep earning a profit?

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.