Democratic Socialists of America Target Union Membership to Shift Labor Leftward

The Democratic Socialists of America have launched a covert effort to place members inside key industries and labor unions, a plan outlined in their rank-and-file project. Young activists are urged to seek employment in fields like logistics, education and health care, where they can either start new unions or infiltrate existing ones to steer them toward more radical positions. The organization’s pamphlet on teachers illustrates this approach, urging socialist educators to demand not only higher pay but also corporate tax hikes to fund it.

By controlling unions, the DSA aims to harness their sizable campaign contributions and mobilization capacity, which traditionally support Democratic candidates. The group cites historic examples such as the Teamsters for a Democratic Union to justify its tactics. Recent endorsements, like that of DC 37 for candidate Zohran Mamdani, suggest the strategy is already bearing fruit.