Union Members in MI, PA Protest Trump's Project 2025 and Its Threats

Union Members in Pennsylvania and Michigan Rally Against Proposed Project 2025

Union members in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Detroit, Michigan, gathered for a "shred day" event to voice their opposition to Donald Trump's Project 2025, which they argue could severely impact public services and diminish workers' rights.

Hosted by members of AFSCME Council 13 and AFSCME Michigan, along with other AFL-CIO affiliated unions, the event spotlighted the perceived threats of Project 2025, including the potential dismantling of unions, loss of overtime protections, and the removal of a $35 cap on insulin for seniors.

Project 2025, described as a strategic plan for Trump's potential second term, is purportedly crafted by his allies. Despite Trump's denial of involvement, The Washington Post reported his association with the initiative's leader, Kevin Roberts, during a Heritage Foundation event in 2022.

CNN reported the involvement of over 140 former Trump administration officials in drafting Project 2025, including six former cabinet members. Additionally, J.D. Vance, Trump's running mate, penned the foreword for Roberts' book, "Dawn’s Early Light."

During the event, Ross Thomas from AFSCME Local 3033 emphasized the potential dangers, saying, “Through our work in PennDOT, we keep roads safe for motorists. We protect them, and our union protects us. Project 2025 is a dangerous blueprint that aims to dismantle public unions like ours, shred our democratic rights, and destroy our ability to have a voice on the job.”

Calvin Johnson, representing Retired Public Employees of Pennsylvania Chapter 13, voiced concerns about the impact on retirees, explaining that Project 2025 could undermine Medicare and retirement benefits. “I always believed that after a career of public service, the promises we’ve relied on — like Medicare and retirement benefits — would be there to support us. Trump’s Project 2025 aims to dismantle Medicare, tear apart our retirement security, and strip away the benefits that have been the backbone of our golden years,” Johnson noted.

In Detroit, Lorna Davison of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office shared her apprehensions, highlighting the potential erasure of her union under Project 2025. “As a public service worker, I’m blessed to stand with my co-workers in a strong union. Our contracts bring us stability and peace of mind. And right now, it's all on the chopping block with Trump’s Project 2025,” she stated.

The demonstrations also featured symbolic acts of shredding signs to signify the perceived threats to essential freedoms such as union membership, affordable healthcare, and secure retirement. Following the events, union members took to their communities to raise awareness about the potential implications of Project 2025 on the workforce.