When National Unions Hijack Local Politics

California prides itself on innovation and independence. But too often, our local governments are being steamrolled by national labor unions with deep pockets and distant priorities.

These organizations, once rooted in community solidarity, now operate more like political machines than worker advocates. In cities like Oakland, we’ve seen the fallout: union-backed contracts that blow holes in city budgets, forcing cuts to essential services while locking taxpayers into unsustainable obligations. The result? Local leaders are left holding the bag while union executives in D.C. claim victory.

It doesn’t stop at contracts. National unions routinely flood local elections with outside money, pushing candidates and policies that reflect ideological agendas—not community needs. They oppose common-sense public safety reforms, lobby for rigid mandates that crush small businesses, and weaponize their influence to silence dissent. This isn’t solidarity—it’s political colonization.

Here’s the distinction that matters: Local unions fight for workers; national unions fight for control. And when that control comes at the expense of fiscal sanity, public safety, and small business survival, it’s time to push back.

California can’t afford to be a testing ground for ideological experiments. We need labor policies that are sustainable, not performative. We need public safety that works, not slogans. And we need to restore local control before it’s legislated out of existence.

It’s time to draw a line. That means demanding transparency in union political spending, empowering local voices in labor negotiations, and rejecting one-size-fits-all mandates from national players who don’t live with the consequences.

The future of California should be built by Californians—not dictated by union bosses chasing headlines and campaign wins. Let’s bring the power back home.