Governor Ron DeSantis is Taking a Page Right Out of the Reagan Playbook

Governor Ron DeSantis is taking a page right out of the Reagan playbook by standing up to union shenanigans, just like President Reagan did when he fired the striking air traffic controllers in 1981. There’s no place for stunts like shutting down ports during a crisis, especially when Floridians rely on critical supplies in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Blocking the flow of food, water, and building materials to communities in need is not just irresponsible—it’s downright dangerous.

What we’re seeing from these unions is exactly why membership has been plummeting across the country. Union membership fell to a record low of 10% in 2023 alone, and actions like this only accelerated that decline. People are tired of watching unions prioritize politics over people. It’s no wonder major unions, like the Teamsters, are distancing themselves from far-left candidates this election cycle, a stark contrast to 2020, when labor organizations funneled over $400 million to Democrat candidates and Democrat-friendly organizations. Compare that to Trump, who received less than $360,000 from labor-linked groups. Clearly, the American people aren’t buying the union playbook like they used to.

See Also: American Action Fund Celebrates Victory: Over a Dozen Anti-Liberty Bills Defeated in 2024

And why would they? When you see unions pulling stunts like this—blocking essential food supplies during a natural disaster—it becomes clear that they’re more interested in throwing tantrums than actually serving the needs of their members and the community. These kinds of actions don’t just hurt the union’s reputation; they hurt everyday people. Instead of stepping up to help rebuild Florida after Hurricane Helene, these union leaders have chosen to weaponize their positions, putting their own political agenda above the safety and well-being of their fellow citizens.

Good for Governor DeSantis for standing firm and calling them out. When public service unions are more focused on playing power games than helping their neighbors recover from a disaster, they’re doing a disservice to their members and everyone in the community. 

Unions have outlived their usefulness when they engage in childish and reckless behavior like this — blocking ports during a natural disaster.? That’s not standing up for workers—that’s selfish and irresponsible. Governor DeSantis is correct to push back, and the declining union membership across the country shows that Americans are waking up to the fact that unions have strayed far from their original mission. Hopefully, the days of unchecked union power are over.