In a surprising turn of events, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona have thwarted an attempt by Democrats to secure a nomination from President-elect Donald Trump.
The move has sparked outrage among union advocates and has been seen as a significant blow to the Democrats' agenda.
According to The Blaze, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York had planned to extend the tenure of Democrat Lauren McFerran at the National Labor Relations Board until 2026. However, this plan was derailed when both Sinema and Manchin voted against the proposal on Wednesday. This decision has effectively handed the nomination over to President-elect Trump, a move that has been met with widespread criticism from union advocates.
The More Perfect Union group released a statement expressing their disappointment, stating, "This means the Democrats will not secure control of the national labor regulator through 2026. These two Senators effectively handed Trump control of the board when his term begins." Schumer also voiced his frustration, saying, It is deeply disappointing, a direct attack on working people, and incredibly troubling that this highly qualified nominee with a proven track record of protecting worker rights did not have the votes."
Steve Smith of the AFL-CIO union was particularly scathing in his criticism of Manchin and Sinema. He said, "Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema are disgraceful. Sided with corporate bosses yet again, doing even more damage to workers' fundamental freedom to organize. A total betrayal of working people. Full stop."
Manchin and Sinema have been known to oppose extremist policies proposed by Democrats in the Senate, a stance that has earned them the ire of many within their party. This led to Sinema leaving the Democratic Party in 2022 and declaring herself an independent. Both Senators have decided not to seek re-election, with Sinema's seat being filled by Democrat Ruben Gallego, while Manchin's seat has flipped to Republican control.
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