Labor leaders from across US come to Oakland to raise concerns over President Donald Trump’s tariffs

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) — At a midday rally at the Port of Oakland on Saturday, labor leaders from across the country joined together to raise concerns over President Donald Trump’s tariffs, ending the day with meetings in San Francisco.

“This was the first rally in the United States by labor, working people and community against the tariff and trade war,” says Bay Area labor activist Steve Zeltzer.

These labor organizers represent millions of working-class Americans, from healthcare to education to the transportation industry. They argue that the tariffs have led to higher prices and layoffs.

“They are paying for the at the gas pump. They are paying for them at the (grocery store). Housing is outrageous now. It is not affordable,” says Marianna Battiste, a labor activist from Davis.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released its latest figures. It shows the U.S. trade deficit fell by close to 24% in August as Trump’s global tariffs pushed imports lower.

Some economists argue that lower imports boost economic growth as more consumers buy domestic products. But many labor groups see the tariffs as a tax.

“The price of these goods is being impacted. And the person who pays for it is the consumer. It’s a tax. It shouldn’t be called a tariff. It is a tax,” says John Palmer, International Vice President At-Large of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He came in Texas.

Economics Professor, Farhad Sabetan, at Cal State East Bay, says that though reducing the trade imbalance is moving in the right direction, the results of Trump’s tariffs are still ambiguous. And despite the president calling for some rollbacks, Sabetan says it’s not clear if that alone can reduce inflationary pressure on prices

“But especially in California because, of course, California is a very large state. We have seen the impact of the tariff on the prices of coffee, on the prices of steak. Coffee has basically gone up by more than 41 percent,” explains Professor Sabetan.

Activists want lawmakers to step in and do more.

“Honestly, we seem to be serving the billionaire class, and not the working class. What I would like to see is Congress take hold of its responsibility, which is they have the right to regulate tariffs. Not the one man in the White House,” says Palmer.