Two years ago, when I was labour secretary under President Obama, I met an auto worker named Robert Hathorn. Robert works at a Nissan plant in Canton, Mississippi, one of only three non-union Nissan plants worldwide. For years, he wasn’t treated like a real employee, with all the same rights and benefits. That’s because he started as a so-called “PermaTemp” – a permanent, temporary worker – which is an oxymoron if I’ve ever heard one. Robert worked alongside full-time Nissan employees. He built the same cars as they did and even trained some of them. But he had to work 70 hours a week to make what they did in 40. And it’s estimated that half of Nissan’s workers got the same raw deal. Last summer, we invited Robert to help us draft the Democratic Party’s platform. The best way to build an economy that works for everyone, he said, is to protect the right to bargain and organize collectively. He also said his story in not unusual. It can be told by factory workers throughout the country who deserve a voice. That’s why Democrats support the workers in Canton fighting to unionize under the United Auto Workers. Democrats believe that when unions succeed, America succeeds – and the evidence backs us up. In fact, in June, the National Bureau of Economic Research published a paper concluding that “the high point of American unions coincided with the low point of American wage inequality in the twentieth century.” What’s more, we know that black workers in particular see tremendous benefits from joining a union. From 2010 to 2015, the average hourly wage for black union workers was 36% higher than their non-union peers. But these fights aren’t just about dollars, they’re about dignity. Democrats know that labour rights are civil rights, and that a vibrant labour movement has always meant a vibrant middle class. Union members are all around Mississippi. They’re football players and ship-builders, teachers and nurses. They protect people’s pensions and paid leave. They ensure safe working conditions and protect the 40-hour work week. They hold companies accountable to their promises and help build a community that prioritizes working families instead of corporate profits. Unionizing would be a major step forward for families in Canton. But Nissan is standing in the way of this progress. They’ve intimidated workers by threatening plant closures, pay cuts and all-out retribution against those who vote yes. These threats aren’t only immoral, they’re illegal. In fact, the National Labour Relations Board has recently filed multiple charges against the plant for unfair labour practices. This is no way to treat American workers. When I was secretary of labour, our north star was fighting for the right to organize. We used all of the regulatory tools at our disposal to make it easier for workers to bargain collectively. We advocated for the rights of workers fighting to unionize at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga. And I was proud to co-author a letter to Nissan with the French Labor Minister about how the company should change their practices to respect workers at their plants in both our countries. At the same time, the Obama administration revitalized the National Labour Relations Board to protect workers from unfair labour practices and hold more employers accountable. If the Trump administration were serious about creating economic growth, they would stand up for workers just like we did. Instead, one of Trump’s first actions was to nominate a Supreme Court justice who wants to make it harder for workers to organize. Meanwhile, Republican governors are working to gut collective bargaining in their states. Democrats believe in empowering workers. People should get extra pay for extra work; workers should operate under safe and humane conditions; and middle class jobs should pay a middle class wage with a secure retirement. Nearly every Nissan plant around the world is unionized, and they have managed to make a profit while still providing good middle-class jobs. The plant in Canton should be no exception. It’s time for Nissan to stop putting their thumb on the scale of justice and let workers decide for themselves. As Robert Hathorn said, the workers in Canton deserve a bigger voice and a better life. And on Thursday, they’ll get to vote for it. Published in Daily Times, August 6th 2017.