AFL-CIO Secy-Treasurer Fred Redmond: Black Workers Being ‘Played’ by Trump’s Economic Games

August 13, 2025

Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO and the highest-ranking African American in American labor movement history, is warning about severe economic impacts on Black workers during President Trump's second term. He highlights that Black unemployment has surged to more than double the national average, with Black women experiencing the highest unemployment levels since 2021. Redmond specifically criticizes Trump's attacks on federal agencies, which have historically provided middle-class pathways for African Americans, and his approach to tariffs, which he claims creates economic uncertainty without delivering promised benefits.

Who is affected

Black workers, particularly Black women
African Americans employed in federal agencies
Black communities dependent on manufacturing and government jobs
The broader working class, especially African Americans
Workers in manufacturing facing reduced shifts and capacity
American consumers who ultimately pay for tariffs

What action is being taken

Redmond is publishing op-eds, including his first as a regular contributor to BlackPressUSA.com
The AFL-CIO is organizing buses across the country to support workers
Redmond spoke at the A. Philip Randolph Institute's annual convention in Chicago
The A. Philip Randolph Institute's 120-plus chapters are organizing in Black communities nationwide
Labor leaders are mobilizing for political action in 2026
Redmond is working on another op-ed to expose the administration's economic policies

Why it matters

Black unemployment has surged to more than double the national average
Black women's unemployment has reached its highest level since 2021
Federal jobs that historically provided paths to the middle class for African Americans are being cut
Trump's firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner threatens the integrity of economic data
Unstrategic tariffs are creating economic uncertainty and increasing costs for consumers
The situation threatens decades of economic mobility gains for Black workers

What's next

Redmond plans to continue mobilizing toward the 2026 elections
The labor movement aims to make Hakeem Jeffries Speaker of the House
Redmond is working on another op-ed to further expose the administration's economic failings
The AFL-CIO plans to continue organizing buses across the country to support workers

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint