Hard Hats for America is a left-of-center, pro-labor union activist organization within North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU). 1
The organization supported the 2016 presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton, 2 endorsed the 2020 presidential campaign of former Vice President Joe Biden, and claimed that the Trump administration did not improve the lives of working Americans. 3
History and Leadership
Hard Hats for America was formed in 2016 as an informal organization within North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU). 1
Following the 2016 election of President Donald Trump, NABTU president Sean McGarvey said that he hoped Hard Hats for America would become a 501(c)(4) nonprofit called Re-Build the USA. 4 The new organization would criticize Trump administration policy efforts, with a focus on labor union and energy-related issues. 5
Political Activities
Hard Hats for America is a left-of-center, pro-labor union activist organization within North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU). 1 Its members include individuals working on American infrastructure. 3
In 2016, Hard Hats for America supported the 2016 presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton. The organization was characterized as a super political action committee (PAC) and ran 334 radio advertisements in support of the Clinton campaign. 2
Hard Hats for America criticized the Trump administration and claimed that then-President Donald Trump did not improve the lives of working Americans. 3 The group attacked the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans for passing tax cuts, claiming that Trump administration economic policies were waging a “war on the middle class.” Hard Hats for America attacked the Trump administration for having what it considered bad record on infrastructure in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin and claimed that President Trump “did nothing” for middle class Americans or American infrastructure. 6
The group said that President Trump appointed “radicals” to federal agencies and had a poor record on pro-labor union issues and claimed that the Trump administration was filled with “anti-union radicals dominating every department and agency meant to protect American workers. 7
Hard Hats for America claimed that the Trump administration National Labor Relations Board reduced the organizing power of labor unions and union-aligned workers. It also attacked the Trump administration Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 8
In 2020, Hard Hats for America endorsed the presidential campaign of former Vice President Joe Biden. 3 9 10 In its endorsement of Biden, the organization claimed that a potential Biden administration would honor the Constitution, support the Bill of Rights, respect workers, follow the “norms of a democratic government,” and oppose racism. 3 The group ran advertisements attacking the re-election of President Trump that included statements from NABTU president Sean McGarvey 11 and claimed that the election of Biden would be the right choice to support a pro-building trades union administration. 3
Funding
From 2016 through 2020, Hard Hats for America received at least $977,205 from 17 contributions. In 2020, Hard Hats for America received $58,793 from the United Association Political Issues Fund, $100,000 from the Ironworkers Political Education Fund, and $83,990 from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Political Action Committee Educational Fund. 12
References
- Gruenberg, Mark. “We were ‘forceful’ with Trump, says building trades president.” People’s World. April 10, 2017. Accessed July 30, 2024. https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/we-were-forceful-with-trump-says-building-trades-president/.
- “2016 Election Media Monitors In-Depth Report.” Media Monitors. October 31, 2016. Accessed July 30, 2024. https://www.mediamonitors.com/press/one-sided-radio-war/.
- “Home.” Hardhats for America. Accessed July 30, 2024. https://hardhatsforamerica.org/.
- “Building Trades Unions Set Legislative Priorities at National Conference.” San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council. April 30, 2017. Accessed July 30, 2024. https://sfbuildingtradescouncil.org/news/top-stories/867-building-trades-unions-set-legislative-priorities-at-national-conference.
- “McGarvey: building trades must again become labor movement backbone.” Michigan Building and Construction Trades council. April 14, 2017. Accessed July 30, 2024. https://www.michiganbuildingtrades.org/newspaper/mcgarvey-building-trades-must-again-become-labor-movement-backbone.
- “Infrastructure.” Hard Hats for America. Accessed July 30, 2024. https://hardhatsforamerica.org/infrastructure/
- “Labor Rights.” Hard Hats for America. Accessed July 30, 2024. https://hardhatsforamerica.org/labor-rights/.
- “No More Broken Promises.” Hard Hats for America. Accessed August 4, 2024. https://hardhatsforamerica.org/labor-rights/.
- “X Post.” Hardhats for America X Profile. Posted October 24, 2020. Accessed July 30, 2024. https://x.com/hardhatsUSA/status/1319735304065077249.
- “Endorsement.” Hardhats for America. Accessed July 30, 2024. https://hardhatsforamerica.org/endorsement/.
- “Online Advertisement.” Allentown Morning Call. Accessed July 30, 2024. https://archive.is/m5q1E.
- “Expenditure.” Hard Hats for America Organization Page. ProPublica. Accessed July 30, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/527-explorer/expenditures/23420868.