The Republican party has always been pro "working class" in that their policies have been focused on trapping the "working class." Keep them poor, uneducated, easily manipulated, and powerless as a worker so they are easily exploited.

Republicans hate social programs like welfare because it's so much easier to prey up on John Q Factory Worker when John is paycheck-to-paycheck and terrified of losing his job.

Ditto for universal health insurance. With medical bills are the top cause of personal bankruptcy, tying a basic human need/right to employment is just yet another way they get to hold a workforce in fear.