Dictators often permit unions, but the permitted unions have no independent power. They act as arms of the state. This was true of both Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia.
In Trump’s America I’m not sure if government-run unions will be permitted. Trump earlier this year signed one of his infamous diktats taking union rights away from close to one million million federal workers. It directed 22 agencies to ignore any union contracts already signed.
Last Thursday, Aug. 28, just before the long Labor Day weekend, Trump signed another diktat, taking away union rights from six more agencies, including the EPA, FEMA, the General Services Administration, the Department of Agriculture, and Veterans Affairs.
I have a feeling that non-governmental unions will soon be on the chopping block.
Information for this post was taken from Eileen Sullivan, “Trump Strips Union Rights for Hundreds of Thousands of U.S. Workers, New York Times, (Sept. 2, 2025), p. A17. Think about that–page A17. This should be front page news.
Put the Afghanistan earthquake on p. 17. I don’t care much about Afghanistan. Many of the potential physicians who could treat the injured are not allowed to get training because they are women. (Yeah, I’m bitter).
Incidentally, my proof reader often says I use too many obscure words. A “diktat” is defined as “an order or decree imposed by someone in power without popular consent.” Perfect fit.
