JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee at this year’s convention of the International Association of Fire Fighters in Boston was received with mixed reactions. Some members of that union booed him.
Vance is running with former president Donald Trump for 2024 elections. He delivered a speech in which he questioned the long-standing support of the union to the Democratic Party. This led to an angry response from audience members.
Vance opened his speech by acknowledging mixed reactions and saying:
It sounds like there are some supporters and haters.
Vance continued to speak, even though the union members booed him. He urged them to rethink their political allegiances.
He continued to jeer, even though he called the Trump-Vance ticket the “most worker-friendly Republican ticket” in history.
Vance criticises Democrats for their support of the union
Vance criticized the IAFF for its past support of Democratic candidates. He cited the IAFF’s endorsement of Joe Biden as president in 2019.
Vance stated, “This union endorsed a Democrat as president in 2019 with high expectations.” “But sadly, I believe you’ve been let down.”
Vance said that the Democratic Party has not kept its promises to the workers despite their historical support.
My friends, we have to admit the truth. Kamala is just the latest in an endless line of Democrats that come to unions every few years to ask for money, promising the world, and then failing to deliver.
The speaker then went on to discuss the declining union membership in recent decades and how it is linked to the erosion of the union’s influence and stagnating wages, both for union workers and those who are not union members.
Vance pointed out that union membership has decreased in the United States over the last 70 years. The influence of unions is declining, and wages for both unionized and non-unionized workers haven’t kept pace with inflation in the past three and half years.
Vance asked the firefighters “What in the world do you have?,” a famous question posed by Trump as part of his campaign for the 2016 election.
Vance vows to support firefighters in their fight against the mandate
Vance also attacked Vice President Kamala Harris for failing to show support to law enforcement officers and first responders in the summer of 2020 when nationwide protests were held against police brutality.
Vance said, “We will certainly not bail out criminals the way Kamala Harris has done,” referring to Harris’s backing of bail funds which helped protesters at that time.
The president also pledged to be tough against crime under a Trump/Vance administration, promising “to put criminals where they belong”, and “to always stand by the brave firefighters and first responders that keep the country safe each and every day”.
Vance addressed COVID-19 mandates as well, which has been an issue for some first responders.
We will defend your freedom of speech and your right speak up about the unconstitutional COVID vaccination mandates that are imposed by this administration.
Vance promised to repeal all of these mandates, and reinstate with backpay any firefighters terminated because they had a dispute over vaccines.
The union is divided over the mixed reception received by its members
Vance’s mixed reception at the IAFF Convention reveals the tensions that continue to exist within the labor unions. Many of these have historically supported Democratic candidates, but they are now being increasingly courted and wooed by Republicans.
Vance’s speech was an effort to capitalise on these tensions, positioning Trump and Vance as the real pro-worker candidate in the 2020 election.
The boos and jeers that he received highlight the difficulties Republicans will face in convincing union members to change their political affiliations. This is especially true in an IAFF union, which has historically been aligned closely with the Democratic Party.
The response to Vance’s speech could be a good barometer of union sentiment as the 2020 election nears. It will reveal whether Republican attempts to gain over labor groups traditionally aligned with Democrats are successful or not.
The ICD published the following article: JD Vance is booed by firefighters after questioning Democratic Support.
