Union leaders from Steamfitters Local 638 are openly breaking with the Democratic establishment, arguing that the Democratic Socialists of America and progressive city officials have lost touch with working-class voters. They say DSA victories in recent primaries, coupled with city policies like a rent freeze, show a party moving leftward while ignoring blue-collar priorities. Those tensions helped push this long-standing union to endorse President Trump and to call out policies they believe hurt wages and local jobs.
Robert “Bobby” Bartels, Jr., the business manager for Steamfitters Local 638 in New York City, did not mince words about DSA influence in local politics. “I think they’re communists, and I don’t think they have the benefit of the working class — the real working class, the taxpayers’ — support,” he said, laying down a blunt charge that the party no longer represents tradespeople. That sentiment captures why many building trades members are reconsidering their traditional political loyalties.
The union represents steamfitters, pipefitters, HVAC technicians, welders and service technicians who have historically voted Democrat, but that track record has shifted. After 150 years of backing Democrats, Local 638 broke ranks and endorsed President Donald Trump in 2024, a sign of deep frustration with party direction. For rank-and-file members, promises about jobs and wages matter more than labels or ideological gestures.
Recent primary upsets put DSA-aligned candidates like Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez into the spotlight, and the union sees those wins as evidence of an ideological slide. These new officeholders were portrayed by rivals as having radical positions that clash with the practical concerns of union workers. The union leaders argue that rhetoric about “supporting the working class” rings hollow when policies undercut union wages and labor standards.
Bartels pushed back on the idea that DSA-style promises actually benefit workers. “They do have the people’s support that want everything for free and want everything handed to them without working for it, and I think the Democratic Party is going way far to the left,” Bartels acknowledged, pointing to a growing disconnect between progressive promises and blue-collar expectations. For many tradespeople, the proof is in policy outcomes, not campaign slogans.
The union’s anger focuses on immigration policy and what they see as its effect on wages and job security. “That we don’t like,” said Bartels. “You know why? Because they’re bringing the illegal immigrants in here to steal the Americans’ jobs and lower the rates.” “They’re working to tear down the people that are working and building everything.” Those lines underline a recurring Republican critique about open-border consequences for the labor market.
Bartels also stressed a personal feeling of abandonment by politicians who claim to champion workers. “Because I’m the working class, and they’re not here to support me,” explained Bartels. “They want to support the people who want to take from the working class.” That direct, resentful language explains why union loyalty is shifting toward candidates seen as prioritizing domestic labor and enforcement.
Brian Kearney, president of Steamfitters Local 638, framed the rift as one between practical labor interests and ideological experiments. “I mean, we traditionally have been working class labor Democrats,” said Kearney, admitting that the party once matched the union’s priorities. Now he says DSA policies often veer into progressive proposals that clash with the reality of construction and trades work.
Kearney was blunt about the challenges the DSA faces in winning over organized labor. “I think that DSA is going to have to try to find inroads through the labor movement in New York City because the labor movement in New York City — and I don’t want to speak for everybody, but you know, personally — it feels like we align on things when we can, but a lot more of their policy has gone towards progressive politics that could end up getting in the way sometimes.” That underlines a practical gap: shared rhetoric does not equal shared policy outcomes.
Kearney also called out Mayor Zohran Mamdani for talking up union labor while pursuing a progressive agenda, noting broken promises on construction jobs and housing. “He’s mentioned union labor, union labor, union labor quite a few times throughout his campaign,” said Kearney. “Affordable housing was a big political issue in New York City. He said it was going to be built, and it was going to be built by union labor, but nothing’s been done yet, you know what I mean? He’s taken care of a lot of I think the agenda that he campaigned on that pertains to like more of the socialist policies, the super socialist stuff… but, he’s mentioned building with union labor, and I’d like to see him fulfill that promise and utilize union labor throughout the city”.
Mamdani, Valdez and Avila Chevalier did not return requests for comment.
