By Rev. Donald L. Perryman, Ph.D.
The Truth Contributor
Respect is never given; It is taken — and it’s kept only if you defend it. – Urban Proverb
The Northwest Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council’s endorsement of biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy for governor and Republican John Husted for U.S. Senate last week is not just routine politics. Let’s call it for what it is: warning shots fired, and tragically, on Labor Day.
Labor Day is meant to honor solidarity, but the Trade Council’s endorsement of Republicans is akin to a rival “squad” claiming turf that the same crew has controlled for decades, or a hostile army setting up camp in the middle of another nation’s sovereign territory. It is an aggressive show of disrespect and challenge that sends a clear signal that Labor, long the fortress wall of Lucas County Democratic politics, is now willing to let rivals pitch their tents inside the gates.
Historically, the Lucas County Democratic Party coalition has had a fragile relationship. Yet, Labor and the Democrats have fought together. The trades have delivered votes, dollars, and boots on the ground. In return, Democratic politicians have provided policies to protect bargaining rights, wages, apprenticeships and other political spoils.
But now, the Trades are saying, “We are no longer pro-Democrat, we are pro-labor.” In other words, we are transactional, and our loyalty is for sale to whoever promises the most.
The reasons behind this defection are no secret. Many rank-and-file Party members are center-right politically and have grown skeptical of Democrats they perceive as “too far left-leaning,” or focused on equity, diversity and inclusion, which they view as leaving behind bread-and-butter concerns. Many members resent student loan forgiveness and bristle at immigration debates.
Perhaps sensing an opening in what will make them money, they have become less ideological and entirely transactional, focusing on the best way to keep their members working at the highest wages, such as promised projects, jobs, and, above all, protection from “right-to-work.” So, promises were whispered, deals were cut, and now the Building Trades have shifted their allegiance as a result.
That is precisely why the Trades’ surprising endorsement matters.
In the 2026 gubernatorial and U.S. Senate elections, the Democrats now face not just a competitive race but an existential challenge. If the Trades are willing to flip, switch up, sell out, jump ship, or “ride with the opps,” it reveals a glaring weakness in the Democratic Party fortress.
And if there is no visible response — no “get-back” — no clap back — no move to check the disrespect, then the perception becomes that the Democrats are soft and anybody can run up on their block without paying a price, which might be politically fatal.
Should the Dems respond, then the get-back has to start with reclaiming the language of work. Republicans cannot be allowed to masquerade as the party of Labor when their record has been decades of union-busting and deregulation. Democrats must remind workers plainly who delivered the eight-hour day, OSHA protections, prevailing wage laws, and pension security. Democrats fought for and won these gains by standing in solidarity with Labor. Therefore, the Party must continually retell that story with receipts, not just slogans.
The get-back also means exposing the transactional nature of this new alignment. The Trades’ endorsements are not about principle but about short-term deals. Yet history has shown what happens when Labor is hustled or seduced by transactional promises: the promises fade, right-to-work resurfaces, and short-term gains lead to long-term losses for workers. Democrats have to clearly articulate that what appears to be protection today may be betrayal tomorrow.
At the same time, Democrats — both locally and nationally — must broaden their base. If a segment of Labor is now willing to sell its allegiance, then Democrats must lean into those workers too often left behind — Black workers, women, immigrants and young people eager for apprenticeships and opportunities. Democrats are not just the party of some workers but the Party of all workers. Unity cannot survive if individual members of the coalition reduce loyalty to the highest bidder.
The bottom line is that the GOP fired warning shots, indicating that the Labor-Democratic Party fortress has been breached and the corner is contested.
Therefore, Labor Day 2025 does not ask Democrats for polite reflection but demands a response. The get-back must be strong, visible, and unapologetic. Otherwise, the house may not just be divided. It may fall.
Contact Rev. Donald Perryman, PhD, at drdlperryman@centerofhopebaptist.org