Two senior officials from Steamfitters Local 638, one of New York's established labor unions, sharply criticized the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) for straying from the realities of the blue-collar working class. The union leaders argued that the party's increasing shift to the left has caused a major rift in the working-class base.
The union's business manager, Robert "Bobby" Bartels Jr., took aim at the DSA, saying, "I think they are communists, and I don't think they have the support of the real working class, meaning the taxpayers." The union, which has a 150-year history and has traditionally supported Democratic candidates, broke from the party line in the 2024 elections by endorsing Donald Trump.
Leftward shift in Democratic Party and worker split
Bartels strongly reacted to far-left DSA candidates who defeated incumbent and established Democratic candidates in last week's primaries in New York. The winners include Darializa Avila Chevalier from New York's 13th Congressional District and Claire Valdez from the 7th Congressional District. Both are DSA members and hold radical views that were highlighted by their opponents during the campaign.
Bartels said, "They have the support of people who want everything for free and want it handed to them without working. I think the Democratic Party is moving too far to the left. In fact, the more people you talk to in the construction industry, the more you see them moving away from the Democratic Party."
Bartels, who described Democrats as "narcissistic," said that when progressive policies fail, the party moves further left instead of correcting course, making the situation worse. Pointing specifically to open-border policies, which he claimed are lowering union members' wages, Bartels said, "They are bringing illegal immigrants here to steal Americans' jobs and drive down wages. They are trying to destroy the people who work and build everything."
Union president criticizes mayor
Union President Brian Kearney said that much of the DSA's work is not aligned with construction industry unions in particular. Kearney assessed, "Traditionally, we have been working-class Democrats. The DSA will have to find its place within the labor movement in New York, because although we align on many issues, much of their policies have shifted toward progressive politics that can sometimes take precedence over jobs."
Kearney stated that Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been focused on his own progressive projects since taking office but has not yet shown support for the construction union. Reminding that one of Mamdani's key promises, the rent freeze decision, was approved, Kearney said, "Throughout his campaign, he repeatedly mentioned union labor. He said affordable housing would be built with union workers, but nothing has been done yet. He has been more focused on advancing his socialist agenda. I want to see him keep his promise to use union labor."
Mamdani, Valdez and Avila Chevalier did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
