While America’s attention was focused on courtrooms last week, labor won two major victories that went almost unnoticed. The first was a vote to unionize an auto plant in Tennessee; the second was a federal decision to prohibit most noncompete clauses.
The decision on noncompete clauses in particular is an effort by the federal government to change the balance of power between ordinary workers and employers. The right, which claims to be pro-worker, is appalled. It promotes “freedom”–but not the kind that permits workers to move from one job to another in times of labor scarcity. For the GOP, “freedom” means the right of the powerful to oppress the less powerful without government interference.
Someone should ask Trump where he stands on these decisions. My guess is that he would refuse to answer.